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When Will Palestinian Leaders Ever Apologize to Their People?

(X) Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib - The idea that the Arabs and Palestinians never really lost in 1948, 1967, after the Second Intifada, or now after the disastrous Oct. 7 fiasco permeates many facets of Palestinian political life, leading some to believe that somehow, one day, conditions will allow for the full liberation of Palestine, the return of millions of refugees and their descendants to mainland Israel, and the end of the Zionist project that created Israel. While Palestinians are not monolithic, and many wholeheartedly understand that Israel is here to stay, political leadership has lacked the courage to update the expectations of the public and to tell the Palestinian people the uncomfortable truths that they don't want to hear. The right of return is a fantasy; perpetual refugee status for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank is a hindrance to nation-building; armed resistance continues to be an epic failure and a massive waste of resources and lives that result in more loss of land and opportunities; a Jewish state is a permanent part of the land and must be accepted for the Palestinians to have a free, prosperous future; and political adventurism and suicidalism can no longer be tolerated given the massive implications they pose to the average Palestinian. Palestinian leaders must not only recognize their failed approaches and crimes against their own people. But they must also apologize for their role in perpetuating a vicious cycle that, while beneficial to a narrow group of people who enriched themselves, has made a mockery of millions of Palestinians who deserve better lives and leadership. Palestinian statehood cannot be achieved in spite of Israel; it cannot be imposed upon Israel; it cannot be screamed at Jews and Zionists around the world. Instead, it requires winning over Israelis and convincing them that Palestinians are willing partners to the Jewish people, able to cast aside their historical grievances in the pragmatic pursuit of a better future. Change and transformation must begin from within. The problem is deeper than just Hamas; it is about transforming the collective mindset to undo decades of external interference, regional negligence, and internal incompetence. It's time to reclaim Palestinian agency and responsibility. The writer, a Palestinian-American blogger, is a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
2025-02-27 00:00:00
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