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The Gaza Events: Reasons and Lessons

What happened in Gaza and the Palestinian rift was unprecedented in its realities, implications and consequences. It necessitates an evaluation process to define the reasons and the parties responsible so as to learn the lessons.
 
Such a process is in itself on the path to a cure. This assessment should not merely be possible. Rather, it is mandatory, because there is no other way to restore the unity of the northern and southern wings of our homeland.
 
Both the leadership and the homeland have split with both sides exchanging accusations. We are now in a weeping process, lamenting the realities of the near past, the future and the cause. If the pain is justified, it should also be known that things are inherently deep-rooted and the questions are numerous.
 
Did Hamas’ behavior come as a surprise? Was the collapse of various Palestinian Authority institutions, with their large numbers of recruits and high expenses since the P.A’s establishment a mere coincidence? Why did Hamas master military supremacy and how did this develop? What was the conduct of the leaders of the security forces like and where are they nowadays? How did they act when they dealt with the events and clashes before and after the Mecca agreement? What was the role of the political leadership and how did it deal with the facts on the ground throughout the past period?
 
We all agree on the strategic importance of evaluating the past incidents and their destructive effects on the cause. Our people have struggled for decades to advance this cause, sacrificing thousands of victims and enduring unbearable suffering. We have to treat this matter on the same serious level.
 
It is not sufficient to criticize Hamas which carries out its own strategy. The alternative is developing a real national strategy to deal with the implications and consequences of what happened in Gaza .
 
There are several voices within Fatah’s ranks demanding to know the reasons for the events and to make those responsible accountable. At the forefront of these voices were jailed leader Marwan Barghouthi and the Gazan Fatah leader Ahmed Helles.
 
We add our voice to these demands for an objective evaluation of the situation to get out of this series of empty circles and painful retreats. The upcoming meeting of the Central Palestinian Council would hopefully be the place for such an evaluation.
 
Ibrahim Deibes is a veteran Palestinian journalist. This editorial first appeared in Al-Quds.