cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/839937
I understand it, with the settler colonialism, and ethnic cleansing of Israel, especially with its ghettoization of Gaza region, that we must critically support Hamas and perhaps the Palestinian Authority in its struggle…
But I feel, through closer analysis, that the authorities of both Gaza and the West Bank are a bit shady af…
I feel this way, considering this video on Hamas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kttN_6qVQg8
(It doesn’t mention much though about how Israel helped spawn Hamas, unlike the Washington Post, the Intercept, and the WSJ)
Specifically on the claims that 'two-thirds (of Palestinians) do not fear a recurrence of the Nakba" and that–
"Perception of corruption in PA institutions stands at 84%.
When asked about institutions controlled by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, 73% indicated that there is corruption in these institutions. Three months ago, 82% said there is corruption in PA institutions and 71% said there is corruption in public institutions controlled by Hamas.
40% of West Bankers think people in the West Bank can criticize the PA without fear while 55% think they cannot. In the Gaza Strip, 40% think people in the Strip can criticize Hamas’ authorities without fear and 59% think they cannot.
Specifically from this source: https://www.pcpsr.org/sites/default/files/Poll 88 English full text June 2023.pdf
That being said, the founder of it is a wealthy Palestinian liberal, so I believe some rebuttals can be made against some of these claims…
Go check this article for more: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/a-palestinian-research-center-comes-under-threat-in-a-government-crackdown
You should not equate the PA and Hamas. The PA is a tool of the Zionist occupation. Hamas is an actual resistance group. That is a crucial difference. It is true that the Zionists preferred to allow Hamas to gain power rather than more secular resistance groups. They thought this would benefit them and enable them to better justify their genocide. As we saw last week this has turned out to have backfired on them.
Yeah… one of them’s a current asset (PA), the other was a former one (Hamas) that’s woken up against its master…
Either way, I want you to look at my post on the data of how Palestinians feel about them, in regards to corruption and fear of criticizing them, and try to critique, explain, or debunk them… (Eg. 59% of people in Gaza fear criticizing Hamas)
Why? You admit yourself that the group conducting this poll, given their material interests and ideological inclinations is hardly sympathetic to the armed struggle for the liberation of Palestine. They are also working with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung which is a German “non-profit” notorious for being used to back up liberal propaganda with polls. What is the point of you cherrypicking the most negative sounding parts from a report of a poll of which we don’t even know whether their respondents were representative of the actual population, or how the questions were asked.
For instance if anyone asked me whether there is corruption in government or institution X i would always answer yes, because corruption exists everywhere - the question is whether it is severe enough to become a hindrance toward achieving the aspirations of the people. Do you think that corruption is more important of an issue than the occupation and genocide that Palestinians are facing? And why is there any need to “explain or debunk” this poll? What would it change if everything was indeed 100% as claimed in the report of this poll? What exactly are you trying to achieve with this line of questioning?
Oh ok… well… I was wondering if the Palestinians were in good hands with their government to conduct their struggle against the Zionist entity, at least with Hamas…
Let me remind you again that the same Ukraine, who are now having to conscript people to the slaughter instead of signing the Minsk agreements and are trying to imitate Israel, were the one of the countries that was rated as one of the most corrupt, so I think it’s a good yardstick to check that Palestine’s rhythm and strategy of national liberation will not be tarnished by infighting and distrust within their communities…
Expecting perfection from those who fight for national liberation is not productive. Infighting and distrust is stoked by and benefits only the occupier.
As Marxists we must learn to recognize primary and secondary contradictions. Whatever political or ideological disagreements exist between those who are genuinely fighting for liberation can and should be set aside until the common enemy has been defeated. Self-criticism should continue to be vigorously exercised but directed at faulty strategies and behavior which sabotages or hampers the struggle for liberation.
“Corruption” is an accusation frequently leveled at enemies of imperialism and settler colonialism, and the more militant and successful the resistance the more these accusations will pile up. It is a form of victim blaming, to claim that the plight of Palestinians is due to the corruption of those who lead them and defend them. You don’t see the same kinds of accusations made toward the occupier or their puppets although this very poll that is cited shows clearly that the PA is more unpopular than Hamas.
On a personal note i want to make it clear that i, like most of us here, have significant disagreements with the ideology of Hamas. But not only is it not my place to tell Palestinians who they should or shouldn’t be choosing as their defenders, it would in fact be nothing less than a stab in the back to the Palestinian cause to allow my personal disagreements with their views to be used to undermine the legitimacy of their struggle.
Whether we like Hamas or not it is a fact that no other resistance group in the entire history of the occupation has EVER pulled off what they have just done. No one has ever taken the fight to the occupier on territory where they thought themselves safe and managed to inflict such humiliation on them. That needs to be respected regardless of their other flaws. Victories like this unite people, while talking of distrust and corruption when the struggle is in such a crucial phase lays the groundwork for rifts and defeat.
On a personal note i want to make it clear that i, like most of us here, have significant disagreements with the ideology of Hamas. But not only is it not my place to tell Palestinians who they should or shouldn’t be choosing as their defenders, it would in fact be nothing less than a stab in the back to the Palestinian cause to allow my personal disagreements with their views to be used to undermine the legitimacy of their struggle.
Whether we like Hamas or not it is a fact that no other resistance group in the entire history of the occupation has EVER pulled off what they have just done. No one has ever taken the fight to the occupier on territory where they thought themselves safe and managed to inflict such humiliation on them. That needs to be respected regardless of their other flaws. Victories like this unite people, while talking of distrust and corruption when the struggle is in such a crucial phase lays the groundwork for rifts and defeat.
So, I suppose democratic centralism, until the national liberation part is done… and I guess it’s counterproductive to talk about this, during a crucial time, especially when corruption is used like a political weapon, as Brazil’s Sergio Moro and his did to Lula and the Partido Trabalhadores…
Until then, good luck to Palestine…
I found a YouTube link in your post. Here are links to the same video on alternative frontends that protect your privacy:
