In an article titled "Has The Palestinian Issue died?" that was published by the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram on April 4, 2022, Egyptian politician and journalist Osama Al-Ghazali Harb argued that the Negev Summit did not mark the end of the Palestinian issue and accused the U.S. and Western European countries of applying double standards by sympathizing with the people of Ukraine while addressing the issue of the Palestinian people with a "racist-like approach." Harb also blamed the Palestinian factions for the current situation of the Palestinian issue and wondered if they survived while the Palestinian issue died or is about to die, asking who should be held accountable.
Egyptian politician and journalist Osama Al-Ghazali Harb
The following are translated excerpts from Harb's column:
"The latest summit which took place in Negev, Israel which brought together the foreign ministers of the U.S., Israel, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain and Morocco and where Israel foreign minister Yair Lapid announced that it would become a permanent forum [a point] which the Palestinian authorities expressed its reservation about. Does that meeting mean the end of the Palestinian issue? Absolutely not.
War In Ukraine Exposes The Double Standard Of The U.S., Europe
"The sympathy and enthusiasm expressed by the U.S. and Western European countries for the people of Ukraine clearly expose the double standards and even the racist-like approach in dealing with the issue of the Palestinian people who are victims of the Israeli occupation of their land.
The Number Of Palestinian Factions Is The "Main Weak Point"
The main point of weakness in the Palestinian side, and I am speaking honestly here, is from the Palestinian themselves, not any other part, which makes the Israelis rest assured that they are safe from any serious pressure from the Palestinians. Gentlemen, do you know how many Palestinian factions there are? Let me mention the names of the ones I can remember: Fatah movement, Hamas movement, the Islamic jihad movement, the Palestinian National Initiative, Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Palestinian People's Party, Palestinian Popular Struggle Front, Palestinian Liberation Front, Palestinian Arab Front, Lightning Forces, Arab Liberation Front, The Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades — the military wing of Hamas, Al-Quds Brigades — the military wing for the Islamic Jihad movement, Al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades — the military wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, Abu Ali Mustapha Brigades — the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the National Resistance Brigades — the military wing of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades of Fath Movement, Liwa' Al-Nidal Al-Amoudi, Ayman Jawda Squads, Abdel Qader al-Husseini Brigades, Al-'Asifah ["storm"] army, Al-Mujahideen brigades, Jihad Jibril Brigades the military wing of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the General Command, and so on.
"Each one of these has its sponsors, leaders, and apparatus. What do you think? Have the factions survived while the [Palestinian] issue died or is about to die? If so, who is responsible?"[1]
[1] Al-Ahram (Egypt), April 4, 2022.
