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30112010135254 Hijazi (Library).Pdf Palestinian Representation and the Struggle for Statehood Ammar Hijazi A dissertation presented to the faculty of Arts in the University of Malta for the degree of Master in Contemporary Diplomacy May 2010 Declaration I hereby declare that this dissertation is my own original work. Ammar Hijazi 31 May 2010, New York, USA ~ i ~ Acknowledgments To my parents who taught me how to love my homeland and take pride in being a Palestinian; to my wife for her boundless love, patience and support. I am also grateful to my colleagues at work; Ambassador Riyad Mansour for his support and understanding; my dear friend Feda Abdelahdi for her support and assistance; thanks too to my dear colleagues Nadya, Yussef, and Somaia for their support and encouragement. Last but not least, my gratitude goes to Ambassador Victor Camilleri, my mentor, for his valued advice and comments, which gave me the guidance, encouragement and enthusiasm to accomplish this important achievement. ~ ii ~ Dedication To those who dedicated their lives and sacrificed selflessly for Palestine's freedom ~ iii ~ Abstract Palestinian national identity evolved as Palestinians came under the rule of a colonial power with an agenda whose aim contradicted their very existence as a nation. Quickly, Palestinian political activists realized that forming a uniting and unified representative body that could engage the international and regional players was a political and practical requirement for the achievement of their national aspirations. But with the formation of the first Palestinian representative body, the struggle for independence began and with it, the crucial battle for recognition. Palestinian representation was greatly and negatively affected by competing regional and international players. These influences often translated into the potent danger of fragmentation. Hence achieving political independence for Palestinian representation was a crucial victory of evolved political thought. It also opened the door to regional and international recognition. International powers have manipulated this issue several times in order to crush Palestinian aspirations and debilitate the efforts towards achieving statehood. This manipulation is easiest at times of internal division as it enables opponents of Palestinian aspirations to stunt efforts leading to their achievement. Hence, the onus of preserving Palestinian representation lies squarely on Palestinians as failing this strategic responsibility could indefinitely set back the national aspirations. ~ iv ~ Table of Contents FORMING A NATIONAL IDENTITY ............................................................................................................ 1 WORLD POWERS: SPREADING CONTROL THROUGH APPEASEMENT, POLITICAL MANEUVER ................................... 2 FACING CHALLENGES WITH LIMITED MEANS, EXPERIENCE ................................................................................. 2 FADING HOPES, FALSE PROMISES ..................................................................................................................... 4 CONFRONTING IMPOSED REALITIES .................................................................................................................. 6 FIRST PALESTINIAN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE............................................................................. 7 LEAGUE OF NATIONS FORMALIZES HEGEMONY ................................................................................................. 9 DIVIDE ET IMPERA (DIVIDE AND RULE) ........................................................................................................... 10 THIRD ARAB DELEGATION TO LONDON .......................................................................................................... 11 UPRISING AND REVOLT ............................................................................................................................ 13 REVIEW OF THE BRITISH POLICY IN PALESTINE ................................................................................................. 14 SHORT-LIVED VICTORIES ................................................................................................................................ 15 FROM DIALOGUE TO DISCORD ........................................................................................................................ 16 THE PALESTINIAN POLITICAL SCENE ............................................................................................................... 17 ZIONISTS OUTMANEUVER BRITAIN ................................................................................................................. 18 THE 1936 REVOLT AND THE FORMATION OF THE ARAB HIGHER COMMITTEE ...................................................... 19 ARAB INTERVENTION SUBDUES FIRST PHASE OF THE REVOLT ............................................................................. 20 THE U.S. FACTOR ......................................................................................................................................... 22 FIGHTING, AND LOSING TO THE ODDS ............................................................................................................ 23 “THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE” IS BORN AT THE UN ........................................................................ 25 PALESTINIAN REPRESENTATION AT THE UN .................................................................................................... 26 THE PARTITION OF PALESTINE ....................................................................................................................... 28 DISREGARD FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE‘S FATE ........................................................................................... 29 THE PALESTINIAN CATASTROPHE AND EXODUS ............................................................................................... 30 ERASING PALESTINE ...................................................................................................................................... 32 THE EARLY BEGINNINGS .......................................................................................................................... 36 PALESTINIAN POLITICAL ACTIVISM ................................................................................................................ 37 FROM ACTIVISM TO REPRESENTATION ............................................................................................................ 38 ATTEMPTS TO CIRCUMVENT PALESTINIAN ASPIRATIONS .................................................................................... 40 1967 DEFEAT AND ITS RAMIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................. 44 POLITICAL MATURITY ................................................................................................................................... 48 PLO ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE .............................................................................................................. 51 PERSPECTIVE ................................................................................................................................................ 53 PEACE EFFORTS: A TREND OF CONTINUOUS UNDERMINING .......................................................... 56 EXCLUSIONIST EFFORTS .................................................................................................................................. 58 NEW DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE ......................................................................................................................... 59 CHANGE IN EUROPEAN POLICY ...................................................................................................................... 62 FROM FAHD PLAN TO REAGAN CONFUSION ..................................................................................................... 62 BATTLES FOR THE INDEPENDENT NATIONAL DECISION ...................................................................................... 64 INTIFADA AND DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE............................................................................................. 65 FROM DENIAL TO LIMITED DIALOGUE: PLO-US RELATIONS ............................................................................... 66 MADRID: AN INCOMPLETE STEP...................................................................................................................... 67 PLO RECLAIMS PEACE INITIATIVE .................................................................................................................. 67 PLO LEADERS IN THE WHITE HOUSE .............................................................................................................. 68 THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY ......................................................................... 69 FROM NEGOTIATION TO CONFRONTATION AND SIEGE ..................................... ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. PALESTINIAN DIPLOMACY IN A CHANGING INTERNATIONAL DYNAMICS ................................. 71 ~ v ~ Forming a National Identity Palestinian political activism began as the British mandate over Palestine started. The two were clearly heading on a collision course, as the interests and goals of both sides were diametrically opposite one another. Starting 1919, Palestinians understood the imminent threat posed by the British mandate and the Zionist project it unconditionally supported and endorsed. This period also marked the early
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