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P F Tinmore, et al,
When, the declaration was adopted by General Assembly as Resolution 1514 (XV) of 14 December 1960, it was a very different region.
(COMMENT)No, I am just saying that those resolutions do not fit Palestine's situation. This is more applicable.
The United Nations and Decolonization - Declaration
In 1960, the West Bank was under Jordanian Sovereignty; established by the Jordanian parliament a decade before --- and remained so until 1988. This was a political action in which the Palestinian Arabs of the West Bank were equally represented in the Jordanian Parliament. The motion was unanimously approved through Parliament and with the consent of the Palestinian People (right of self-determination). This was not a move by any colonial power. So, essentially, from the time of the Arab League invasion (1948), until the Disengagement from the West Bank by Jordan in EOM July 1988, by the consent of the Palestinians, the West Bank was under Jordanian control (military occupation until April 1950, and sovereignty through July1988). If there was a Colonial Power (establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colony in one territory by a political power from another territory), it would have been The Hashemite Kingdom. BUT, since the Palestinians of the West Bank were deeply involved in the annexation of the West Bank, and that the West Bank was annexed through the consent of the people, it is not really a colonial action.
Similarly, the Gaza Strip was (theoretically) was under the quasi-Administration of the "All Palestinian Government" (APG), under the umbrella protection of the Egyptian Military Governorship from the time of the Arab League invasion (1948) until the Egyptian Government dissolved the APG in 1959. From that point forward, and until the Peace Treaty between Israel and Egypt, the Egyptian Military Governorship maintained control over the Gaza Strip. Again, if there was a Colonial Power (establishment, exploitation, maintenance, acquisition, and expansion of colony in one territory by a political power from another territory), it would have been Arab Republic of Egypt.
In time of the Seventh Arab League Summit Conference Resolution on Palestine --- Rabat, Morocco 28 October 1974; the Arab League (as the regional authority of Arabs) recognized an independent national authority under the command of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people in any Palestinian territory that is liberated. This authority, once it is established, shall enjoy the support of the Arab states in all fields and at all levels. In 1974, the West Bank was still sovereign Jordanian territory; not liberated Palestinian territory. And again, the Gaza Strip was still under the Military Governorship; which did not change until the Treaty of Peace between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, 26 March 1979.
(COMMENT)The fact is that the Palestinians have never had much to do in choosing their own leaders. For the most part they have been imposed on them by outsiders. Palestine was born under occupation and that continues today.
The Palestinians have always had the capacity in choosing their leadership. The Palestinians merely forfeited their options and allowed their opportunities to be exploited by other Arabs.
The Palestinians had essentially the same opportunities as the Israelis; they just could not make it work for them.
Most Respectfully,
R
The Palestinians have always had the capacity in choosing their leadership.
Yeah, like their election of Hamas in 2006.
Not to mention that Britain arrested, exiled, or killed Palestinian leaders all through the Mandate period.