Resolving the Palestinian Crisis

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

I renew here my proposal for resolving the current Palestinian crisis, in the hope that someone might listen. Many ideas have already been put forward for overcoming Palestine’s internal problems, but none has met with a response from any Palestinian faction, to the point that it seems to me the factions simply are not interested in solutions.

I appeal to the honorable public, to the media, to academics, and to men of law and learning to engage with this sorrowful event and this deteriorating Palestinian situation, in the hope that we may be guided to a way out that spares the Palestinian people the suffering caused by internal conflicts. This is my proposal:

First: the formation of an administrative council made up of independent Palestinian experts, specialists, and academics, to manage the civil and everyday life of the Palestinian people. The Palestinian people have no need of a government or a presidency, and we are deceiving ourselves when we burden ourselves with titles that do not match our painful reality.

I define “independent” as someone known for his national commitment, but who is not affiliated with any Palestinian faction, and with no Arab or non-Arab state.

Second: the council’s task is purely administrative, not political, and it has the authority to impose civil order — that is, it oversees a police force with the authority to supervise internal security.

[This council has no] connection to national security; the task of national security remains in the hands of the resistance factions, which operate in secret and without any interference whatsoever in the course of Palestinian civil and everyday life.

Fourth: all Palestinian factions must support this council’s administration whenever support is requested, without having any right of objection. Whichever faction wishes to fight, the enemy stands before us; whichever does not wish to, may pursue social activity instead.

Fifth: once Palestinian civil affairs have stabilized, the council shall prepare to hold administrative elections.

Sixth: the only security apparatus permitted to exist is the police force directly attached to the administrative council. We have no need of security agencies or an executive force.

Seventh: the council shall work actively with the various forces of the Palestinian people, inside Palestine and abroad, to reorganize the Palestine Liberation Organization in a manner that represents everyone, according to a charter agreed upon by the various forces — an Organization that would then take charge of overseeing the affairs of the Palestinian people at home and abroad, including political affairs.

How the Council Is to Be Formed

Factions not involved in the internal fighting are to be entrusted with forming this council, and — to save effort and reduce the clamor — I propose that one Islamic faction and one nationalist faction take on this task, with explicit and public agreement from the various factions, foremost among them Hamas and Fatah.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “حل الأزمة الفلسطينية” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.