http://www.challenge-mag.com/en/article__362
Register here for Challenge on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Challenge-Online-Magazine/121389134601913 For reprint: Credit: Yacov Ben Efrat Challenge Online Magazine www.challenge-mag.com TALKING POLITICS When will this become an Intifada? by Yacov Ben Efrat The history of Palestinian political prisoners is replete with struggles that have claimed many victims but that have always had two characteristics: first, they expressed a collective decision, and second, their demands were focused on improving prison conditions. In these respects, the series of hunger strikes beginning in 2012 with Khader Adnan (66 days), a series which has since included others and is now continuing dangerously with Samer Issawi (more than 200 days) is exceptional. Each strike is the consequence of a private decision, and its purpose is to force Israel to liberate the striker. Another exceptional feature of this heroic struggle is that in the pre-Oslo past, the striking prisoners belonged to Palestinian movements that were all outlawed and persecuted by the Occupation authorities. In Issawi's case, however, the prisoner is associated with a legal Palestinian current linked to Salam Fayyad's government, maintains relations with Israel, and cooperates with it in security, administration and economy. Moreover, Issawi had been freed as part of the Shalit deal, which was signed by Israel and Hamas under the mediation of Egypt. His hunger strike has provoked the Palestinian Authority (PA) into harshly criticizing Hamas, because the latter had failed to secure sufficient assurances to prevent the re-arrest of freed prisoners. Issawi claims he did nothing to breach the conditions of his release. The differences between Fatah and Hamas do not end there. Each side in the West Bank and Gaza exploits the hunger strikes, including Issawi's, for its own interests. Instead of uniting the factions of the Palestinian people in a common struggle, the strikes have had the unintended effect of deepening internal divisions. Both Fatah and Hamas have reached an impasse and both have lost credibility. They meet in Cairo in repeated failed attempts to end the division. The hunger strikes are evidence that the prisoners have abandoned hope of being freed by negotiations or a further prisoner exchange. Their refusal to eat indirectly expresses their lack of confidence in the Palestinian leadership ____________________________________________________________ Woman is 53 But Looks 25 53/YO Mom reveals 1 simple wrinkle trick that has angered doctors... http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/513801a2825a01a156d3st04vuc _______________________________________________ Marxism-Thaxis mailing list Marxism-Thaxis@greenhouse.economics.utah.edu To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://greenhouse.economics.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism-thaxis
