Al-Shabaka Roundtable June 2020

TRUMP’S “DEAL” FOR : REPERCUSSIONS AND RESPONSES By Inès Abdel Razek, Munir Nuseibah, Oraib Rantawi, Omar Shaban, Jaber Suleiman, and Randa Wahbe

Overview communities to stand up to the deal, Rantawi, who assesses Jordan, laments the dearth of these US President ’s “Deal of the Century” connections and urges their strengthening. Randa

[email protected] stipulates that Palestinians recognize as a Jewish Wahbe, writing about the in the state with all of as its capital, give up the US, calls on Palestinian- to rise up and right of return, accept the annexation of the Jordan capitalize on their strength to revitalize the demand Valley and the illegal settlements, and live in Bantustans. for the right of return and freedom. She outlines steps Though the deal largely does not change conditions needed to accomplish this, including demanding a voice on the ground for Palestinians, it helps legitimize among Palestinian society writ large, emphasizing the the Israeli colonial project and emboldens Israel to connections discussed by Suleiman and Rantawi. pursue, at an ever accelerating pace, the seizure of more Palestinian land and the displacement of more Jerusalem Palestinian people – what Al-Shabaka Senior Policy Fellow Yara Hawari has argued is meant to lead Munir Nuseibah to “total Palestinian capitulation.” Even as the world now faces the COVID-19 pandemic, these Israeli Since UN General Assembly Resolution 181 in 1947, moves continue apace. which recommended partitioning Palestine into two states and keeping Jerusalem as a separate entity Al-Shabaka asked members of its network to discuss administered by the , the city has faced the ramifications of the deal where they live and to harsh Zionist colonial policies. These have included outline what steps are being taken – or should be mass displacement and dispossession, restrictions taken – to counter them, with a particular focus on on movement, and segregation of the urban space. www.Al-Shabaka.org connections among Palestinians across the globe. As defined by the occupying power, Palestinians in Jerusalem have the unique civil status of “permanent Munir Nuseibah, Omar Shaban, and Inès Abdel residents” in Israel, a status that Israel has widely Razek analyze Jerusalem, the , and the West revoked and restricted. Bank, respectively, recounting Palestinian reactions to the deal (or lack thereof) and calling for a renewed Donald Trump’s “deal” adds to the fears of Jerusalem’s and reinvigorated Palestinian leadership to take on Palestinians about the future. Israel, of course, did the current challenges. Shaban also examines how the not wait for Trump’s intervention, and annexed Palestinian Authority and have squandered the West and and a number of other moment, which, he argues, if handled differently could surrounding neighborhoods after the 1948 and 1967 have brought about a unified Palestinian front. wars, respectively. What the Trump deal provides is an opportunity for Israel to argue that this annexation Jaber Suleiman and Oraib Rantawi investigate was legitimate, as it is now recognized by the world’s the deal’s repercussions for refugees and refugee largest superpower. Such a position provides Israel with rights. While Suleiman, who considers Palestinian further cover to seize Palestinian land and dispossess refugees in Lebanon, ultimately highlights some Palestinians in order to create a demographic Jewish 1 global collaborative efforts among Palestinian refugee majority in the city. June 2020 The proposed plan further separates Jerusalem from rejecting the deal, with numerous mass demonstrations its Palestinian surroundings, making it an exclusively that brought together protestors from all walks of life Israeli metropolis. Though the fate of the Palestinian confirming their condemnation of the plan. communities living within the city and carrying Israeli residence permits is uncertain, it is likely that Israel will Palestinian political officials have also rejected the deal severely curtail their ability to move from one side of unequivocally, including President Mahmoud Abbas, the wall to the other. Israel has also been increasing Hamas, and all political and armed groups in Gaza. Such illegal settlement construction and development in rebuffs have remained limited to press statements and and around Jerusalem, which has the intentional political speeches. The Palestinian Authority (PA) also effect of further restricting Palestinian natural growth. addressed several international Arab and Islamic actors Palestinians are also apprehensive about Jerusalem’s holy to affirm the Palestinian rejection of the deal. sites, most notably the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is facing continuous Israeli restrictions and attempts to change its Some actors, such as former chief of Hamas’s Political status from an Islamic site to a Jewish one. Bureau Khaled Meshaal, have called on the PA to take bolder steps, including withdrawal from the Oslo Moreover, Palestinians in Jerusalem are fearful about Accords, dissolution of the PA, and enforcement of the overall effect of the deal, as it encourages Israel the numerous decisions taken by the PLO’s Executive to continue to prevent refugees and displaced persons Committee and the National Council to sever ties with from return and further divides Palestine into smaller and end obligations toward Israel, especially in regard and smaller Bantustans while advancing and developing to security coordination. Even before the deal was exclusively Jewish colonies in the whole of Palestine. unveiled, others denounced the positions of some Arab regimes and politicians who called on the Palestinians to Concurrently, Palestinian Jerusalemites are experiencing wait and think the plan through before rejecting it. a leadership crisis. While the initial reaction from Palestinian officialdom – a categorial rejection of the Trump plan – was a good start, it is not enough. Indeed, “Trump’s deal could have years of Israeli political repression have succeeded in limiting active official representation and there is almost been a blessing in disguise had no clear actor that has the agency and power to lead the population. This has kept Jerusalemites holding their the Palestinians treated it as breath, unsure how Israel will translate its increased motivation to achieve internal impunity into further facts on the ground. reconciliation.” The Palestinian leadership and Palestinian civil society must rethink their whole strategy and what liberation means. Israel is continuing the classic colonial tactic of On the other hand, some from Gaza have declared on proposing agreements with indigenous inhabitants in social media that the deal could provide better solutions order to buy more time to steal more land and draw new for the Gaza Strip in lieu of the now 14-year painful boundaries. The time has come to rethink the goals of reality of blockade, poverty, unemployment, multiple Palestinian liberation in a way that focuses on ending the wars, and hopelessness. The hardship brought by the colonial regime rather than partitioning the land. siege and the ramifications of the division between the PA and Hamas have pushed people to consider such an Gaza Strip unjust deal potentially less harsh than their bleak reality.

Omar Shaban Further, despite a shared rejection of the plan, both PA and Hamas officials accused the other of being subtly Many residents of the Gaza Strip have expressed their complicit in “passing” the deal or failing to take serious rejection of the Trump administration’s “deal” despite steps to thwart it. These actions marred the chance their belief that it would have a lesser impact on Gaza for Palestinian consensus. The Palestinian public had than the and Jerusalem. Indeed, Palestinians previously been somewhat optimistic regarding the 2 in the enclave have led popular mobilization efforts consensus of otherwise divided Palestinian parties when June 2020 June settlement south of have Beita ; and land grabs and outposts and E2

, such as the reopening of, such projects in national movement.” requires a new Palestinian requires a new Palestinian strategy redefines the that Palestinian national project national project Palestinian E1 corridor “Countering the Trump deal “Countering the Trump and rejuvenates the Palestinian the Palestinian and rejuvenates settlers. settlers. plan brings to an end the “two-state The Trump that the US and Israel mantra a hollow solution,” trulynever pursued. While is no consensus there regarding whether they want among Palestinians or a federal state, one state, states, in two to live and freedom, dignity, want all Palestinians otherwise, regardlessjustice, of arrangement. the administrative Rather, it is settlers and the Israeli authorities who Rather, exhibited more ofhave in A spike a direct response. home demolitions; authorizations for new construction the Al-Arma/ as at Jabal such Popular occurred since the US first announced the deal. to defy these continued resistance committees have from the army experiencing daily attacks and actions, them do not trust Palestinian Liberation OrganizationLiberation trust do not them Palestinian to come up leaders (PA) Authority Palestinian (PLO) or with a strategy rights and change will defend their that the current reality. This mistrustis particularly in acute among people in PA-administered Bank who are living the West the hardship dictated by are lives people’s Most areas. of has already transformed the occupation, which Farmers, into fragmented Bantustans. communities employees and PA shop owners, in settlements, workers overcoming can for their families, as best they provide of a lack whether roadblocks, obstacles, or water, are they know in circumstances a limited cashflow, This the PA. Israel and accepted by controlled by the reason why relentless daily existence is likely no visible outburst occurredthe Palestinian from Bank after the Trump population in the West administration announced the deal. annexation that that he will send that he will send de jure stated in place. For decades, great powers great powers decades, For in place. de facto that they can only count on themselves and need their that they can only count on themselves majority of at present, the vast plan. However, own plan as a genuine effort and have failed once againplan as a genuine effort to and have hold Israel accountable for its human rights violations. furtherPalestinians These convinced reactions have If deal has increased Palestinians’ anything, the Trump mistrust of interlocutors and partners, Western the welcomed including European countries that have fundamental rights recognized. decisions despite them or without them at the table. decisions despite them or without them at the table. This Palestinians plan is another humiliation in which are told what is good for them instead of their having have long lived, greenlighting a long lived, have is already contempt, making with similar treated Palestinians have forward by the US administration is a non-starter. is a non-starter. the US administration by forward it came as no surprise and shed furtherRather, light on a one-state apartheid Palestinians under which reality For Palestinians in the West Bank, the “deal” put in the West Palestinians For West Bank West Inès Abdel Razek regime is squandering. reconciliation. Instead, the drivers ofreconciliation. Instead, the drivers the division ofare stronger than the drivers the rejection. This political Palestinian that the entire is another chance that is neither weak nor extreme. In fact, the prejudiced In fact, nor extreme. that is neither weak the been a blessing in disguise had deal could have internal to achieve treated it as motivation Palestinians a Palestinian strategy and a Palestinian that ensures an inclusive unified national position and a plan ofeffective action materialize. of the development deal necessitates The Trump to resolve it. Although Abbas it. Although Abbas to resolve a PLO delegation talks, to the Gaza Strip for unity yet to and has made in January the statement was weakened the support ofweakened Arab and Islamic actors. catastrophic effects, the division’s Despite recognizing serious steps failed to take Hamas have and the PA The Palestinian division emboldened the US, which which US, emboldened the division The Palestinian had fragmentation political regime’s assumed that the this rejection did not translate into practical steps into practical did not translate this rejection for unification. they all rejected the deal and boycotted the Bahrain Bahrain the and boycotted the deal all rejected they 2019. Nevertheless, conference in June economic

Al-Shabaka Roundtable 3 June 2020 June and international events regional 4.4 million Palestinians of4.4 million Palestinians all legal statuses who make up nearly one third of who make Palestinians

has been a Lebanese-Palestinian constant. a Lebanese-Palestinian has been confront Trump’s vision. confront Trump’s Jordan Oraib Rantawi and termEvery provision of “deal” directly Trump’s affects the in Jordan targeting . For example, Lebanon’s Lebanon’s example, For refugees. targeting Palestinian coordination Rights – Aidoun, in Center for Refugee Refugee Center for Citizenship and with the Palestinian organizesRights – Badil, based in Bethlehem, an refugee course in Beirutannual status on Palestinian and Palestinian in international that is attended by law The 2019 session Lebanese human rights activists. focused on the implications of deal and its the Trump vision regarding refugees. also NGOs have These centers and other Palestinian raised these issues in for including the Arab Renaissance in the past year, workshop (ARDD)’s Democracy and Development held in Amman in October refugees, on Palestinian 2019; the Bruno refugees Kreisky on Palestinian Forum held in Vienna in the and diaspora communities, ofsame month; and an Academic Friends UNRWA in February University organized Exeter by workshop, efforts of demonstrate the extensive events 2020. Such and the diaspora in Palestine the refugee communities and constitute a tool to for refugee rights, in advocating basic human rights and resettlement and declared its declared and resettlement rights and human basic to the right ofadherence return. of In fact, rejection tawteen Instead of Lebanon imposing further restrictions, refugees Palestinian toward its policies should modify to furthergranting comply with international by law them a broad spectrum of basic human rights without be the most effective Thisnaturalizing them. would Palestinians Lebanon’s provide as it would approach, with temporary mitigate their would protection and to struggle them suffering while allowing everyday for their return calm Lebanese could also – and as such fears of permanent resettlement. in Lebanon, refugee community The Palestinian has always society organizations, through its civil its counterpartsbeen in constant coordination with in and the diaspora with respect to the threats Palestine , in the plan has tawteen

decision sparked widespread and unprecedented decision sparked refugee community, protest among the Palestinian refuted any link between rejected the plan and which of Labor’s July 2019 plan, for instance, imposed even of imposed even 2019 plan, for instance, July Labor’s restrictions on the labor ofmore severe Palestinians, who are considered foreigners in the legislation. The and the Lebanese state has in turn initiated more The Ministrydiscriminatory refugees. policies toward This issue of integration, or increased Lebanese fears of presence, the Palestinian vision justifies its claims for integrating Palestinian vision justifies its claims for integrating as a refugees into the Lebanese host community durable solution that can end their suffering. marginalization and their ambiguous legal status that them ofdeprives The all basic human rights. almost The plan focuses specifically on Palestinian refugees in The plan focuses specifically on Lebanon, highlighting their socioeconomic and spatial refugees in the Arab countries where they reside. Therefugees reside. in the Arab countries where they as “just, fair vision describes this solution, ironically, and realistic.” denies a proper and just reparation for Palestinian denies a proper and just reparation for Palestinian refugees; and aims at permanently said resettling multigenerational definition of“Palestine refugee;” mandate; dismantles refugee terminates UNRWA’s the right ofcamps across the region; liquidates return; relating to refugee or immigration status.” vision rejects UNRWA’s this goal, Trump’s achieve To an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement that “provide[s] an Israeli-Palestinian for a complete end and release ofclaims any and all reveals its goalreveals to impose solutions on the refugee issue that disregard UN international relevant and law principally UNGA 194, through calling for resolutions, Jaber Suleiman Jaber refugees on Palestinian chapter plan’s The Trump Lebanon how racist and unequal the system is in which those those the system is in which racist and unequal how are offered. incentives plan ignores, instead aiming to redefine freedom as to redefine freedom instead aiming plan ignores, the act of no matter incentives,” “economic receiving their homeland – the area between the Jordan River and River Jordan the between – the area their homeland the Mediterranean – particularly Sea its environment, This what the Trump is culture. and heritage, history, Palestinian identity and the right to self-determinationand the identity Palestinian to attachment from Palestinians’ detached cannot be

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 4 : “The June 2020 June statement by Audre Lorde Audre statement by refuses to decolonize.” “Palestinians deserve more “Palestinians than the scraps at the bottom than the scraps at the of the barrel of human rights Palestinians can no longer seek their rights and dignity Palestinians ofwithin the established frameworks international law and third-party While Palestinians state obligations. they absolutely use these tools to their advantage, must be a barometer ofcan never what they deserve. deserve more than the scraps at the Palestinians bottom of the barrel of human rights discourses or order that international that maintain a world treaties the forefront in an unwaveringly loud and unflinching loud and unflinching the forefront in an unwaveringly announce the annexation smugly Trump Watching way. and Jerusalem as land swaps, of Valley, the Jordan with a sense Palestinians capital overwhelmed Israel’s of defeat. this moment calls in despair, But rather than wallow to particularly Palestinian-Americans, on Palestinians, the ever-timely evoke house.” dismantle the master’s tools will never master’s announcement has made it crystal clear that Trump’s channels thanks to its regional allies, Qatar and Turkey, and Turkey, Qatar allies, regional to its thanks channels of reach and the far The Brotherhood. the Muslim only is the in Turkey conference diaspora Palestinian ofopen channel the different for communication Such in Jordan. including that communities, Palestinian the to confront be strengthened must connections challenges of the current moment. The States United Randa Wahbe “deal” affirmed unwavering the ’ Trump’s to rights support Palestinian for Israel to liquidate all Global political leaders have their land and sovereignty. humanity by grotesquely Palestinian contested always up the basic tenets of to give imploring Palestinians in a new trend has ushered Trump so, Even their cause. is brought to disenfranchisement Palestinian in which that maintain a world order that that maintain a world discourses or international treaties communities even more difficult and rare. Only more difficult and rare. even communities Hamas has been able to sustain communication body. Moreover, the announcement of the Moreover, deal the Trump body. rendering pandemic, coincided with the COVID-19 among Palestinian synergies and communication been almost nonexistent for years. The Palestine The Palestine been almost nonexistent for years. Liberation Organization united those (PLO), which into a helpless and symbolic has evolved communities, A major challenge to this need is the fact that has communities Palestinian interaction between national project and rejuvenates the Palestinian national the Palestinian national project and rejuvenates movement. sluggishness, corruption, and a disconnect from its therefore requires deal the Trump Countering people. strategyPalestinian a new Palestinian that redefines the movement is on the brink ofmovement if collapse, it has not already collapsed. It is reeling from division, century-long colonial project by proclaiming victory. century-long proclaiming victory. colonial project by The of “Deal the Century”proclamation. is that what remains ofMeanwhile, national the Palestinian Israel is having a moment ofIsrael is having strategic supremacy and to its end that the time has come for a decisive believes seen Jordanians ofseen Jordanians to identify origin begin Palestinian more as Jordanian. homeland schemes. Despite this situation, owing to a this situation, owing Despite homeland schemes. national liberation project and Palestinian deadlocked ofthe imperatives the past decade has daily existence, rights because of mandate to maintain the country’s indicating any its “demographic balance” and avoid willingness to accept resettlement and alternative Jordan, however, is unlikely to grant Palestinians from to grant is unlikely Palestinians however, Jordan, civil or even citizenship rights, the OPT , losing not only their right oflosing not only their return also their right but to visit relatives. Israel act on its promise to officially annex the Israel act on its promise and the northern Dead Sea. Displaced Valley Jordan jeopardy of in the OPT are therefore in Palestinians on Israeli approval, since the deal recognizes Israel’s since the deal recognizes Israel’s on Israeli approval, and international borders security control over intensify should would constraints Such crossings. their movement between Jordan and the Occupied and the Occupied Jordan between their movement contingent more (OPT) even Territory Palestinian than one million displaced Palestinians from the Palestinians million displaced than one of residing in Jordan and Gaza Strip Bank West their right to return and villages to their towns and makes worldwide and about two thirds of thirds two about and worldwide the country’s the more Thepopulation. deprives deal, for instance,

Al-Shabaka Roundtable 5 June 2020 June rights. Palestinian-Americans are an integral part Palestinian-Americans ofrights. and now, future, history and the Palestinian Palestinian as so. assert they must themselves more than ever, continue to disenfranchise Palestinians in the diaspora in the Palestinians to disenfranchise continue while and elide their demands because they are far away, nation’s the Palestinian to negotiatecontinuing away The self-anointed Palestinian Authority cannot Authority The self-anointed Palestinian fragmented nation and they must build a platformfragmented nation and they must that and representation considering their them a voice gives dispersed condition. made to feel that their distance and inability to live on inability to live made to feel that their distance and them from shaping visions for land excludes Palestinian a globally are Palestinians future. a liberated Palestinian The second step forward is demanding a voice within within The is demanding a voice step second forward in exile living society for Palestinians Palestinian are often and in the diaspora. Palestinian-Americans Yet fighting for a progressive agenda for a progressive fighting United in the Yet identity. up a Palestinian States does not mean giving lived experiences and must work against the violence work and must experiences lived supremacy. white perpetrated by to dominate and expel people there. As taxpayers As taxpayers to dominate and expel people there. and members of Palestinian- in the US, communities from their daily Americans cannot isolate themselves undocumented communities in the United States, nor in the United States, undocumented communities can it distance itself from the structures that continue must organize agenda.must under a progressive It cannot as separate from in Palestine see its dispossession the oppression ofand queer, indigenous, Black, occur. occur. United States diaspora in the First, the Palestinian must destabilize the normalcy destabilize must of violence against their crucial two steps must do so, To home. families back rise up together, become a collective community, and community, a collective become rise up together, for revitalize the demands on its strength to capitalize ofthe right return Palestinian-Americans and freedom. refuses to decolonize. This a golden is to decolonize. refuses opportunity States to in the United community for the Palestinian

Al-Shabaka Policy Brief 6 is an independent researcher/ is the Founder and Director of is the Founder the is a graduate student in Omar Shaban for Gaza-based independent tank PalThink think Strategic Studies. Suleiman Jaber Studies. consultant in Refugee Randa Wahbe Her research anthropology at Harvard University. dead bodies are Palestinian focuses on how to facilitate its settler- the Israeli state exploited by colonial expansion. is an advisor on cooperation is a human rights lawyer is a human rights lawyer is the founder and director general Al-Shabaka materials may be circulated with due attribution to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. Network. Policy be circulated with due attribution to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Al-Shabaka materials may The opinion of members ofindividual do not necessarily reflect the views of policy network Al-Shabaka’s the organization as a whole. al-shabaka.org. mission is to educate and foster public debate on Palestinian human rights and self-determinationmission is to educate and foster public debate on Palestinian the within of be reproduced with due attribution to Al-Shabaka, framework Al-Shabaka policy briefs may international law. contact@ email: or contact us by more information For visit www.al-shabaka.org Network. Policy The Palestinian Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Policy Network is an independent, non-partisan, Network and non-profit organization whose Policy Al-Shabaka, The Palestinian Studies and an established writer and columnist. Studies and an established writer and Oraib Rantawi of Al Quds Center for Political the Amman-based Munir Nuseibah in and academic based in Al-Quds University Jerusalem, Palestine. policies and intergovernmental cooperation. Inès Abdel Razek focusing on public for sustainable development,

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