Having read the article “Not learning from failure” (The Jordan Times, December 2, 2009), I would like to express my ideas about the concept of nonviolent resistance.
In our Palestinian struggle, we tried all kinds of violent resistance since the 1960s, and the Palestinians gained nothing other than being named terrorists and losing Western support.
For many nations, nonviolent resistance was the path to freedom: blacks in the US, led by Martin Luther King Jr., blacks in South Africa during the apartheid, led by Nelson Mandela and, of course, the Indians led by Gandhi. These people were able to achieve freedom, justice and a better future.
We need to speak to the West in the language it understands. We cannot tell a European or American about our right to plant bombs in public transport buses.
This does not mean that Israel has the right to commit massacres. But we can talk to the West about our rights, international law, Geneva conventions, which is much more beneficial for our cause and rights.
A demonstration of 100,000 people in the West Bank chanting “We want freedom” is much more effective than 100 bombs in universities and buses.
We need to use the weak points of our enemy, but unfortunately we are making him stronger. The weakness of the enemy is our point of strength, which is our right to freedom, independence and justice, based on human rights and international law. Israel’s strong point is public relation: every time we plant a bomb somewhere in Tel Aviv, they gain more support and we lose ours.
Nonviolent resistance is the only alternative to useless, violent armed resistance, but it does not mean acceptance of the current situation.
Today, Israelis, Westerners and Palestinians are demonstrating against the Israeli wall and settlements. The Westerners take back these stories to their countries, and the circle of support increases week after week. I know this did not end the occupation yet, but it is one step on the long path to freedom.
What did we achieve through suicide bombing and rocket attacks in terms of ending occupation? Simply nothing.
By the way, it is not only Mahmoud Abbas who supports nonviolent resistance. There are many other Palestinians who do, among them the well-respected Mustafa Barghouthi.
Wasseem Al Kury,
Amman
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