Dr. Fayyad and the Resistance Economy

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

Dr. Salam Fayyad has said he will work to develop a resistance economy. This is fine talk, and I am among those who would lend him a hand in reaching this goal, and am prepared to work with him to build such an economy; I believe many others besides me would be glad to take part as well. With this statement, Dr. Fayyad surpasses even the “development for steadfastness” program that began in the early 1980s, and there are perhaps large numbers of people watching, waiting to see what the doctor-prime-minister will actually do.

But it is important to clarify what we mean by a resistance economy, and the following points may sum up the matter:

A resistance economy means, first and foremost, decoupling the economy of the territories occupied in ‘67 from the Western states and Israel, because this camp has worked hard, in cooperation with Palestinians and Arabs, to build a begging, service-based, consumerist, debt-ridden economy in order to degrade people and divert them from their national causes. It is easy to decouple from the Western states, but rejecting the Israeli economy requires a great deal of effort and sacrifice, because Israel is an occupying state sitting on our chests, and most raw materials come by way of it. Still, we must try, and keep trying, whatever sacrifices it costs us.

Self-reliance, as far as possible, is the watchword of a resistance economy, so that we leave no room for anyone to impose their will upon us. This means:

Focusing on agricultural development, and adopting agricultural policies that increase the area of cultivated land and the number of people working in agriculture, and providing every kind of support to farmers, livestock and poultry breeders, beekeepers, and owners of factories built on agricultural production.

Lowering the level of consumption and adopting a policy of austerity. This requires a return to Arab consumption habits, which in turn improve a person’s physical, mental, and psychological health.

Developing new social values, such as the values of collective work and mutual cooperation, in place of the reckless, boastful, ostentatious values currently prevailing. This touches on the values surrounding wedding expenses and spending on happy occasions.

Cutting government expenditures drastically, including having the president of the Authority, the prime minister, and the ministers give up their cars, their bodyguards, and other expenses that weigh heavily on the people. And restructuring the various administrative affairs so as to achieve higher administrative efficiency at lower cost.

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…reduced to what is needed to preserve internal security alone; Israel’s security is not our responsibility. Some of these personnel would move into the education and health sectors, others into agricultural and craft positions.

Halting the import of goods and commodities we do not need, and those for which we can produce an alternative. We have no need for dates from Israel, or avocados, bananas, corn flakes, or ketchup, nor do we need bedroom sets from China or Turkey. We have skilled craftsmen in shoemaking, clothing, furnishings, blacksmithing, and so on. This will provide many job opportunities for people and raise official tax revenue because of increased production.

With austerity, salaries would be brought in line with the cost of living, which is expected to fall. Austerity also implies reducing fees on various transactions, reducing university fees, and lowering prices, since the local market will be full of local products and will become less affected by price levels in Israel.

Using the Jordanian dinar and the Egyptian pound instead of the Israeli currency.

Insisting on importing raw materials from Jordan and Egypt instead of from Israel.

We are not expected to become suddenly self-sufficient, and we are expected to remain in need of outside financial support. This is why we search for sources of financial support from parties that impose no conditions on us.

Developing a resistance economy requires ending normalization with Israel, and every kind of cooperation with it, including security cooperation.

Developing a resistance economy requires mobilizing the energies of the masses, so that every individual takes his proper place in achieving the goal. Developing such an economy requires everyone’s participation, the unity of the people, and their trust in the seriousness of the endeavor. In other words, the matter requires a focused cultural and media program.

The most important point in all this is that the official or the leader must convince people of what he says by setting an example. That is, the president of the Authority must practice austerity before anyone else, must walk as the people walk, and must cross the checkpoints as they do. But if the official wants VIP treatment, then his efforts come to nothing.

If the doctor-prime-minister adopts these steps, the Palestinian cause will enter a new turning point, consistent with the era of the Arab revolutions and with the idea of liberation.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “الدكتور فياض والاقتصاد المقاوم” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.