Gaza’s Year of Victory, Palestine Observer State in UN

Fadi Obeid - Gaza

Palestinians witnessed several events in the past 12 months, from diplomatic to field to livelihood-related events. However, the resistance's triumph in Gaza and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) upgraded status from non-member observer stated in the UN's General Assembly marked the most distinctive.
In an interview with al-Ahed News website, Political Sciences Professor in al-Azhar University, Dr. Naji Sharrab reiterated that the pragmatic manifestation of the past events will appear along with the New Year, particularly after the "Israeli" elections due this January.
 "In light of these two major events and their repercussions, I believe that 2013 will witness a true beginning that might change the present scene, whether through Arab and European initiatives to appeal concession with Tel Aviv or through reinforcing Hamas Movement's regional presence in case events stabilise in Egypt," Sharrab added.

Inevitable Option

Moreover, Sharrab saw that the latest aggression and what had happened in the UN made Palestinian reconciliation an inevitable option, considering that "Hamas becomes closer to strengthening its presence in the political regime with all its components and institutes at the time where State brokers needed to end secession between Gaza and the West Bank to manifest the State in reality."
The Palestinian academic foresaw the US administration to play a more present role in upcoming months regarding the conflict with "Israel".

On a similar note, member of the central committee of the Fatah Movement, Jamal Moheisen's vision did not differ from Sharrab's, concerning the necessity to move full speed ahead and repair the crack of the occupied nation.
However he hinted at obstructions from Hamas preventing it from taking a decisive call to restore unity, in which Hamas denied. Moheisen further acknowledged a positive popular climate for reconciliation, especially the unity shown in the Bank and Gaza during Gaza aggression.

Moreover, he denied claims of the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah seeking to dissolve the authority, accentuating that discussions presently include holding the occupation responsible for its restraining policies.
Moheisen strongly censured Arab leaders' negligence to their pledges of providing a financial security network, stating, "Any aid provided is less than required and cannot balance a drop of blood from the smallest Palestinian child defending this sacred land, so the Arab nation is required to stand beside us in light of its capability as the West does with "Israel"."

A Distinctive Phase

Gaza's victory was considered a distinctive phase throughout the history of confrontation with the Zionist entity, member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine's central committee Kayed al-Ghoul said.
"We face a conclusive station of overthrowing the void option of negotiation, after it failed to re-attain any of [our] stolen rights through two decades," al-Ghoul stated.

Furthermore, al-Ghoul called for seizing the opportunity to build a base on the achievements in Gaza and the UN, and formulating a national strategy that reinforces the resistance path. Also, he called for blocking any attempt to revive concession.

Observers and politicians all approve that the upcoming year will carry several developments in favour of the Palestinian cause, providing that the latest accomplishments be invested; especially that "Israel" is drowning in its domestic crisis in one hand, and its international isolation in the another.

Source: al-Ahed News, translated and edited by moqawama.org