Deportation and the Manipulation of Public Opinion

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

It is the duty of every Palestinian to stand in the face of Israel and its aggression, and to support every Palestinian and Arab who is subjected to its measures and its threats. But it is important that we not leave ourselves prey to emotional reaction and confusion at the expense of thinking about the work that must be done to enable our steadfastness and reinforce our positions.

It is noticeable that whenever the Islamic movement leaps to the forefront of the Palestinian scene, Israel works to take measures or theoretical positions that it turns into a news story overshadowing the event. For the third time in two years, the Islamic movement is powerfully dominating events and forcing the media to comply with the truth, and Israel comes forward to hand the media a news item that diverts Palestinian attention from the real conflict raging between the people and the Zionists. And although the popular reaction this time to the news about the deportation of Mr. Arafat is very weak, the media scene has nonetheless been temporarily hijacked. Israel bombed the leaders of Hamas, foremost among them Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, yet we did not see this kind of media amplification, nor did we see official institutions ordering their employees or schoolchildren to go out and demonstrate.

The Palestinian arena needs to put its leadership institution in order, because national interest demands this, just as it has demanded it over the past thirty years. There must be a modern, non-personalized leadership institution that guarantees continuity and frees itself from the personal style of rule. And as long as Arafat is threatened, as he sees it, then national interest must call on him to act immediately toward making vital changes that lead to putting the Palestinian house back in order and establishing a collective leadership at the level of the PLO, in which the various forces, factions, and parties all take part. As for this parade that repeats itself once every few months, it has become unconvincing to the overwhelming majority of the Palestinian people, however hard the media may try.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “الإبعاد والتلاعب بالرأي العام” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.