Some Observations and Reflections from Palestine
By Jonathan Kuttab
Since returning to Palestine last week, I have been speaking with trusted individuals and extensively monitoring Hebrew broadcasts on TV and radio. I developed a number of observations about Palestinians and Israelis that are often missing in the Western Press:
Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel have a deep sense of fear and foreboding. They were shocked at the intensity and brutality of the Israeli response to Hamas’ attack and the inability of the world community to respond adequately to what they clearly perceive as an ongoing genocide.
Many are also surprised at how long the crisis is taking. They strongly fear that the end is nowhere in sight, and that if hostilities in Gaza were to cease or become significantly reduced then the West Bank would be next. The heightened level of Israeli settler and army violence as well as impunity is only the first step towards a more massive attack, with the possible aim of another large-scale population transfer–this time in the West Bank and towards Jordan.
Israelis also are reacting as if in the midst of an existential battle, sensing the need (and perhaps the opportunity) to reach a final resolution of their dispute with the Palestinians, by means of a crushing and lasting victory and the implementation of an unclear plan to resolve matters in their favor once and for all. The sense one gets is that Israelis are living in a bubble, with no appreciation for the suffering of the Palestinians (which is rarely depicted in their media) or the opinions of the rest of the world (which they dismiss as antisemitism). There is only a determination to use massive power, out of a sense of superiority combined paradoxically with a feeling of vulnerability. There exists also a sense of entitlement and impunity clearly demanding that Israel be exempt from normal standards of behavior and that the world see things their way, and complaining of victimhood if the world (or anyone) fails to support their version of reality.
There is very little interest in Israel any more to maintain the façade of democracy, liberality, freedom of speech, right of dissent, or judicial restraint. There exists a vengeful spirit and a feeling that the outrages of October 7 gives them the right to do anything they want. The anger at Netanyahu personally hides the fact that Gallant and Lapid do not really disagree with him at all on the overall handling of the Gaza issue or the Palestinians.
In the West Bank there is real economic suffering, since tourism has virtually stopped as well as work permits for Israel. Last month, there was also a 50% reduction in salaries from the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, there is increased settler violence and an overall sense of foreboding as people are waiting for worse things to develop. Ultimately, there is a tremendous disappointment with the reactions of the Arab countries and of the Palestinian Authority, which is losing all credibility.
Generally, there is a feeling that major things may happen soon, none of them at all good, yet there is a fierce determination for sumud and resilience.
These are merely some of my observations. While I am here, I will continue to listen and absorb what I see and hear.