Finally… the nation is victorious

Everyone in the Islamic and nationalist factions knows that the Palestinians are filled with ideology intellectually, politically, religiously, culturally and geographically, but our homeland lives in us all and its love runs deep in our hearts and veins. Therefore, a nation with such high fighting spirits should not be worried because they are able to review, amend and regain control of their initiative.

I was very happy to follow the swearing-in of the national unity government by President Mahmoud Abbas on 3 June as well as the meetings and discussions which preceded the signing of the Al-Shati refugee camp agreement in April, thus ending the political division. The majority of the intellectual, factional and political elites doubted that this could ever happen, given that personal interests and benefits would be put before those of the country, and that the path would be blocked to prevent reconciliation. They also thought that those benefitting from the division of the main factions would work to make it permanent and that Israel would make every effort to use its political and security power to thwart it. In addition, the US was also counting on the continuation of the split in order to put pressure on Abbas to give the concessions that Israel wants at the negotiating table.

We were hopeful that the division would not last long because the elements of life and vitality in our great nation are stronger than all the miscalculations of some, and because Palestine, the holy land, history, people, holy sites and the good people will put an end to sedition, no matter how long it lasts. Since the bloody events of June 2007, we have been saying loudly that this rift that affected our strong establishment and split our social unity, rendering it a state of “either you or us” between Hamas and Fatah, is a passing issue that will not last long; ending the division and achieving reconciliation is considered by Hamas as “a legitimate duty and inevitable national necessity”. Hamas made a decision during the first month of the division that its strategic option would be to take steps towards reconciliation and believed that if the split continued, it would be surrendering to the occupation state by abandoning our national project and ending the Palestinian dream of liberation, return and independence.

I wrote on media websites articles that were, at times, optimistic, saying that the reconciliation was near, and at other times warned against the dangers of its absence. Some accused me of being a political dreamer and unrealistic, saying that I assessed matters hastily, that everything that happened was an Israeli plan and, therefore, to believe that things would go back to the way they were was wishful thinking and asking for the impossible.

In fact, some of the positions and statements made by the two main poles of the crisis, Fatah and Hamas, shocked me at times, making me harsh in my criticisms and judgments on occasions. Some of my brothers would reproach me with regards to some of my articles, and my answer to anyone objecting to the spirit of my articles and asking me about my positions was that the country is bigger than all of us; the supreme national interest has been entrusted to us and we must tell the truth, while the others must accept the bitterness of the truth. Our homeland is being lost and time, especially in light of the decision, is not on our side or our cause, and therefore our people will not realise their ambitions and dreams of seeing Palestine as a free and independent country.

To be honest, some of the articles I wrote were accepted widely by the Palestinian grassroots, perhaps because the people saw in me someone who raised the banner of the nation high above the Palestinian Authority and who suffered the sceptics for the sake of the truth. A few of those who cherish their friendships and their bravery defended what I wrote and defended the 50-year history we lived through as activists within the context of the blessed Islamic Movement. The founders of the movement wanted it to act as a mercy to the world by means of its goals and the noble sacrifices of its members, its martyrs and its prisoners.

There is no doubt that there were some who posed difficult questions while looking into the ranks and seeing that the country is being lost and that the sanctities are being Judaised and violated. They would ask, “O people, are there no wise men amongst you?”

There were those who supported me, promoted my writing and encouraged me to carry on. They said that those who are attacking me today will apologise tomorrow, because the light of truth may disappear and fade away, but only for a short period of time.

I would sometimes pray before sending articles for publication, as I could sense from the reactions of many of my brothers, who, due to the secretive and harsh environment under occupation, were not used to a member of the movement writing articles critical of its policies. Our nation’s wounds festered in my heart as I asked, is politics letting the people go hungry and threatening them with fear and deprivation?

I would always say to my brothers, leaders do not lie to their families and those who have reached their sixties, like me, are close to meeting their creator. Therefore, we must advise, not flatter, and must adhere to the saying, “warn your tribe and kin” because betraying what has been entrusted to us is not a characteristic of the righteous and those following the path of truth.

I hope that as we return to national unity and the reunification of our internal forces, every member of Hamas and Fatah turns to the other and says: “Forgive me brother and may God forgive us all. We allowed the devil to come between us and divide us, and we went astray in a moment of recklessness and tension. Today, we will work together to combat injustice and will fight the occupation with one gun of resistance for the sake of our people’s freedom and dignity and we will fight to regain our rights usurped by the invaders.”

We have turned the pages on 7 years of separation in the course of our struggle, which includes hunger, murder and siege. Despite this, everything we have achieved through the steadfastness of our people and the blood of our martyrs has given us the great taste of victory.

I extend my heartfelt congratulations, perfumed with the scent of this blessed land, to my beloved brothers in Fatah and Hamas and pray that God supports them and guides them along the right path, and destines their national reconciliation to achieve all of their aspirations, successes and empowerment.

Translated from Al-Sharq newspaper, 4 June 2014

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.