When will pro-Palestinian factions stop the theatrics and act like they really want a state? Apparently, these groups not only have oodles of time on their hands to undermine Israel with meticulous, never-ending PR stunts, but they also have a colossal pocketbook to fund countless delegitimization brouhahas.
Weeks ago, Israelis had to deal with the promise of 2 million people rushing the Jewish state’s borders in the Global March to Jerusalem only to see that number dwindle to a few hundred. Last Sunday, Israelis were burdened with the possibility of thousands of activists flying into Ben Gurion Airport for Air Flotilla 2 aka “Welcome to Palestine” at the end of the highly-traveled Passover weekend, only to see a total of 79 who managed to arrive. Most were detained, received a wry letter by Israel’s Foreign Ministry, and then were deported to their home countries. Hundreds more planned to fly to Israel but were thwarted when the airlines cancelled their tickets.
Now, 1000 Palestinian prisoners including Hamas, Islamic Jihad along with other pro-Palestinian factions are orchestrating yet another PR stunt by announcing they’re on a hunger strike (eyeroll). This impromptu event “just happened” to coincide with a planned meeting between Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salem Fayyad and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Palestinian officials claim Fayyad was reluctant to be seen engaging with Israel on a day when more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners began a hunger strike to protest their conditions. In reality, prisoners in Gaza orchestrating the same kind of activity would receive a round of bullets.
Instead of meeting with his counterpart, Netanyahu spoke with PA negotiator Saeb Erekat and the head of Palestinian intelligence Gen. Majad Faraj in Jerusalem. Netanyahu’s office stated again Israel is committed to peace, and Netanyahu would reply to Abbas’ letter with the hope that the exchange of letters would advance the peace process.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing eye-opening in the last minute cancellation by Fayyad. His no-show supports the latest prisoner-induced PR stunt, and illuminates fissures in the Palestinian political establishment, which has failed at its attempt to achieve independent statehood. If anything, Fayyad’s absence is a precursor for another unilateral Palestinian move for statehood recognition at the United Nations, an effort ditched last fall following criticism from Washington and Israel.
Abbas’ letter to Netanyahu accused Israel of failing to carry out its obligations under a 2003 “road map” agreed by both sides, which included ceasing construction in areas deemed part of a future Palestinian state. Perhaps the Palestinian Authority would be successful achieving statehood if Fayyad actually showed up for meetings, and Abbas ceased making threats.
Chances are an independent Palestine will never receive blessing from the United States or Israel while the Palestinian Authority continues doing a knock-out job of avoiding direct peace talks and undermining the Jewish State, all while appealing to the United Nations through the backdoor.
