- Dec 6, 2009
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Ask any resident of Gaza what their thoughts are on the US-sponsored direct talks between Israel and Mahmoud Abbass Ramallah government, and youre likely to hear one of three responses:
1) Surely, you jest;
2) Somethings rotten in Ramallah;
3) Negotiations?
There is very little patience in Gaza for this latest set of talks. They are not only being conducted without a national consensus by what is broadly considered an illegitimate government, but they also completely marginalise the Gaza Strip and overlook the blockade and asphyxiation it has suffered for more than four years.
When people started to talk about negotiations and going back to the peace process and all, I thought, wait a minute, who took our opinion before going there? said Ola Anan, 25, a computer engineer from Gaza City. I mean, Mahmoud Abbas is now a president whos out of his presidential term. So in whose name is he talking? In the name of Palestinians? I dont think so.
Nabulsi, like many others here, feels the negotiations are farcical given the fractured nature of the Palestinian leadership, but also given the fact that most consider Abbass government illegitimate and his term expired.
Today, Abbas should be talking about creating a new government with legitimacy, one that takes into account the voices of the people, and makes decisions with them. He should not just be negotiating on his own volition, based on whatever pops into his head and the [heads of the] Ramallah gang.
Tadamon! » Gaza left out in the cold
1) Surely, you jest;
2) Somethings rotten in Ramallah;
3) Negotiations?
There is very little patience in Gaza for this latest set of talks. They are not only being conducted without a national consensus by what is broadly considered an illegitimate government, but they also completely marginalise the Gaza Strip and overlook the blockade and asphyxiation it has suffered for more than four years.
When people started to talk about negotiations and going back to the peace process and all, I thought, wait a minute, who took our opinion before going there? said Ola Anan, 25, a computer engineer from Gaza City. I mean, Mahmoud Abbas is now a president whos out of his presidential term. So in whose name is he talking? In the name of Palestinians? I dont think so.
Nabulsi, like many others here, feels the negotiations are farcical given the fractured nature of the Palestinian leadership, but also given the fact that most consider Abbass government illegitimate and his term expired.
Today, Abbas should be talking about creating a new government with legitimacy, one that takes into account the voices of the people, and makes decisions with them. He should not just be negotiating on his own volition, based on whatever pops into his head and the [heads of the] Ramallah gang.
Tadamon! » Gaza left out in the cold
