 hat is the reason for crisis in Gaza and what can be done to ameliorate the situation?The struggle in Gaza is essentially between Yassir Arafat, the president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and those loyal to him, and young political street militants. In this case, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades (interestingly, this is an armed faction of Fatah, an organization founded by Arafat himself) poses the most serious challenge to the PA. Members of this group strongly object the method of governance chosen by the PA, and have accused it of corruption and ineptitude.Rami G. Khouri of the Daily Star also believes the following is contributing to the resentment:
With around two-thirds of all Palestinians in Gaza living below the poverty line, such homegrown abuse of power on top of the indignity of the occupation and poverty has become too much to take.
Under intense political pressure, Arafat has for some time been asked to not only reform the Palestinian security forces, but also hand much of their control over to Ahmed Qureia, the moderate Prime Minister. For now, the Arafat-run National Security Council holds central authority of the services.The Palestinian security apparatus is a complete organizational disaster. Agencies have overlapping responsibilities, poorly defined roles and as a consequence, there is intense rivalry between many of them. Battling security forces have been known to engage in gunfights to determine jurisdiction and supremacy. As a consequence, these security forces are rife with corruption as they try to gain power and curry favor with the local populace (for a detailed description of the PA’s security forces prior to Arafat’s reformation, click here).On July 17, 2004, Arafat made a veiled attempt at consolidating the forces, narrowing them all into three groups: general security, police and intelligence. However, he appointed his cousin, Moussa Arafat, previously the head of military intelligence, to lead the new services.According to Martin Asser of the BBC, “the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, while remaining loyal to Yassir Arafat, objected violently to the promotion of Moussa Arafat – someone who seemed to embody all their objections to the way the PA works.” The militants accused the PA of continuing their policy of cronyism and nepotism in the face of extreme hardship faced by ordinary Palestinian citizens.In the wake of this appointment, a string of kidnappings, gun battles, and fierce street protests broke out in Gaza, led principally by the Abu Rish Brigades. Gaza police chief, Ghazi Jabali, was the first to be kidnapped, although the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claimed responsibility for his disappearance. The abductors insisted he be investigated on terms of corruption charges. Specifically, they claim he has stolen $22 million in public funds.The Washington Post reports:
| Mohammed Dahlan, the former chief of preventative security in Gaza and longtime rival of Arafat’s, was behind the kidnapping of Jabali on Friday. While Dahlan has strong support among some Fatah factions and security forces in Gaza, he also has been tainted by rumors that he used his government position to amass personal wealth. | Additionally, four French aid workers and Colonel Khaled Abu al-Ula, another Palestinian official, were also kidnapped. They have all since been released after what Reuters describes as “intervention by Mr. Arafat, UN officials and the French diplomats” to have them freed.Realizing his massive error, Arafat removed his cousin as the head of security. However, the initial move cost him dearly. Describing the situation in Gaza as “a real disaster” and “unprecedented lawlessness”, the moderate Qureia tendered his resignation, citing frustration with Arafat’s grip on power. Arafat has since refused to accept the offer.On Friday, July 23, 2004 Arafat reluctantly agreed to grant Qureia full authority over the troubled security services. According to the Daily Star:
| Arafat’s decision came as the EU’s top diplomat raised pressure on the Palestinian president by hinting the EU would reconsider relations with him if his prime minister quit in a leadership struggle. | Although Arafat agreed to the measure, it is not clear when the implementation of such a reformation would take place.The Daily Star reports “officials close to Qureia dismissed Arafat’s message.”On that same day, the Palestinian Legislative Council convened and recommended Arafat accept his Prime Minister’s resignation and in turn, appoint a cabinet with robust power. Arafat essentially rejected both pleas.What should be made clear is that this conflict is not merely between two groups clamoring for power. This offensive is a result of Israel’s decision to unilaterally withdraw from the Gaza Strip, leaving the prospect of an intense power vacuum.Khouri astutely underscores two issues in the Gaza “chaos” that have wider implications for Palestinians and the larger Arab world:
| First, the clear failure of the current Palestinian leadership under Yassir Arafat to achieve its people’s national rights to statehood, security and a normal life, and the consequent need for a combination of new leadership blood and better policies; second, Gaza is yet another warning about the failure of the modern Arab security state, and the need for a better brand of statehood based on law-based citizen rights rather than gun-based regime protection and perpetual incumbency. | Arafat, for all the popular support he once garnered, is a democratic failure (recall that Arafat was placed into power 8 years ago in elections that Israel itself acknowledged). Regardless of what sympathies one may have for ordinary Palestinians or even Arafat himself, his record of accomplishing goals set by himself and the international community is nothing short of pathetic. Oslo is completely dead, he is trapped in his Ramallah compound, the U.S. has severed all diplomatic ties with him, the Israel government has contemplated his assassination, his citizens live in abjectly poor conditions, and now armed young men are inching their way toward power. Israel has always been Arafat’s excuse. He holds Gaza ransom as he plays the pitiful martyr of Israel’s misdeeds. For years, Palestinians have responded to this demonstration, agreeing that Arafat is held powerless against the Israelis who attack him in all corners and in all endeavors.Now it appears Arafat’s charm has worn dangerously thin. For any faults Israel may have, perceived or real, it is clear to many Palestinians that not all of their problems can be simplified to overly zealous “Zionists”. That awareness is now coming to a head.The initial question still stands: what can be done to ameliorate the situation?Temporarily, the prospect of some order evolving in the area would be beneficial. Additionally, Qureia retaining his post and injecting moderate influences into the hopeless PA would also serve greater Palestinians interests. Long-term, however, is a far different matter. With Arafat simply unwilling to relinquish any power to subordinates and the looming withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza Strip, more violence appears imminent. Peace for Palestinians is not a lofty task, but an impossible one so long as Arafat remains in control. Massive government overhaul, especially the Palestinian Authority, under the watchful eye of the international community is in order.Khouri observes:
| Most ordinary Palestinians and political activists are not in revolt because they want to rule, but because they want to be ruled by an efficient, humane government – something that Arafat and his men have failed to deliver. | Everyday residents of Gaza are asking for so little and receiving even less. Arafat and his corrupt PA are the obstacles to any forward progress for peace, Palestinians and Israel. Whatever actions is taken to help Palestinians, it comes without any question that Yassir Arafat must go.
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