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The Future Direction of Palestinian Politics

(New Yorker) Isaac Chotiner - Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah, said in an interview that there's no doubt that the Palestinians are unhappy with their own leadership and their own political system. There is a perception that the Palestinian Authority leadership is more interested in maintaining the status quo, maintaining its position in power, and putting its own self-interest and survival ahead of the interests of the Palestinian people. The current leadership has been in place since 2009 without electoral legitimacy, and the absence of elections is one reason why there is a lot of discontent. There is also a perception that there is a great deal of corruption within the PA, which is becoming a one-man show. It is highly authoritarian, there is no separation of powers anymore, the judiciary has been undermined considerably, and there is no legislature and no accountability or oversight in the political system. There isn't going to be an intifada as long as the Palestinian Authority is strong enough to be able to deliver basic services and to deploy its security forces in most of the West Bank. The leadership can decide that it will fight against a third intifada or that it will allow a third intifada to take place. In 2000, Arafat decided to allow an intifada to take place. Today, there is not a leadership that will allow this process to unfold without putting brakes on it.
2023-03-16 00:00:00
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