Palestinians without a political perspective | tagesschau.de

The Israeli government has so far remained vague about what will happen next for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip – and also for the people in the occupied West Bank. They are disappointed in their political leaders.

Ibrahim sorts scarves made from cashmere wool and bags made from camel leather. The shelves of his shop in the Old City of Bethlehem are full. Only customers don’t come.

The war is affecting the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Anyone who wants to talk to them about the reason for this war will quickly hear counter questions.

“Look: I’m not a supporter of Hamas or anything like that. I don’t like politics. I’m normal,” says Ibrahim. “But if someone comes to your house and kills your brother or your mother in front of you. Do you stay calm and do nothing? No – you go crazy and fight.”

Ibrahim says the fighting must stop. There needs to be talk about peace. But he doesn’t know who will speak for the Palestinians. He only knows one thing: it shouldn’t be Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “He talks a lot, but doesn’t do anything. He doesn’t do anything,” says Ibrahim. People now needed someone who would negotiate well. The world’s governments must stand behind the Palestinians. “But everyone is behind Israel.”

Many people here see the Palestinian Authority, headed by the 88-year-old Abbas, as too weak, too Israel-friendly and too corrupt. The last elections in the West Bank were almost 18 years ago.

Prisoners and martyrs

Change of scene. The Dheisheh refugee camp, south of Bethlehem. Palestinians and their descendants who were displaced with the founding of the State of Israel live here. The Israeli army regularly carries out raids against radical residents.

When Israel released Palestinians from its prisons in return for the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip, they were also greeted in Bethlehem with cheers from Hamas.

A young man stands at the counter in a small snack bar in Dheisheh. He prepares salad, chops onions and grates cheese. His name is also Ibrahim. “Sure, the issue of prisoners is very important. In the end, they are, how should I put it, they are our intellectuals. They are clean and honorable. The prisoners are planning the fate of our freedom. Some prisoners have martyrs in the family and they “They themselves are prisoners. They make sacrifices, they do something good for our country.”

The 22-year-old wants to discover the world. But he only knows what happens outside the West Bank from stories. Tourists would see more in the region in two days than he did in 22 years.

“We are a front”

Young Palestinians long for perspective. And for politicians who can give them to them. For Ibrahim, Abbas and his Fatah party are not one of them. He names Marwan Barghouthi and Ahmad Saadat. Both are in Israeli prisons because they are said to have been involved in attacks.

Similar to the old town of Bethlehem, there is no sense of distance from Hamas in the Dheisheh refugee camp. “Hamas has a military role in the resistance, Marwan has a political and military role. Also Ahmad Saadat. Our unity is our strength,” says Ibrahim.

“We have to be one hand, even in Gaza. We are a front. We are connected in the West Bank and Gaza,” the young man explains. Of course there are many political problems, especially with the parties. But all Palestinians wanted freedom – and a state without the problems of political succession.

No trust in them Autonomous authority

When talking to the Palestinians, it quickly becomes clear: they no longer expect much from their politicians. Especially not from the Palestinian Authority. Even if she is considered the only contact person internationally. She hardly has any support from the local people anymore. This does not bode well for discussions about the period after the war in Gaza.