Elements of a Palestinian State

Elements of a Palestinian State

Earlier today I received the Winter 2010 issue of the Rawabi Home Magazine, which is the official publication relating to the construction of the new Palestinian city of Rawabi north of Ramallah. Rawabi will be the first ever Palestinian municipality built according to a master plan which, when completed, will provide housing, work and recreation for 40,000 people.

Receiving the publication was no surprise as I am familiar with the project and its positive ramifications for those interested in seeing the development of responsible Palestinian governmental leadership.

What I was not prepared for, and what hit my eye immediately, was the postage on the envelope. The philately was a 500 Fils stamp of the Palestinian Authority with an artistic rendering of Mother Mary and her child with the words “Bethlehem 2000” on the side of the stamp. First of all, I was not aware that the Palestinian Authority is issuing postage. Secondly, it was interesting to see that the postage is denominated in Jordanian currency (i.e. 500 Fils is ½ of a Jordanian Dinar). My guess is that the Government of Israel is complicit in the issuance of such postage and that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has given approval to the use of their currency as well.

Many of the readers of this blog may be surprised as well on both issues but for reasons other than those that made me look again at the envelope. My guess is that many people are not even fully aware of the extent to which the elements of statehood are being developed within areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority. The planned City of Rawabi is a major undertaking of the Palestinian leadership funded in great part by the Qatari government through one of its real estate arms. The issuing of postage, while it may seem innocuous enough, is yet another example of the march towards statehood. Israel’s readiness to deliver such mail with stamps issued by a non-state also speaks loudly to the potential emergence of a real country next door (read: facts on the ground).

People who know me well are aware that I believe the only long term political solution that will ensure the eternal viability of the enterprise known as Israel, is for our “cousins” to have a state of their own, side by side with Israel, with true peace and harmony between us. I am not making a statement here that this is possible. I am only saying that if it could be achieved it would be in the long term interests of both of us.

But what is important to note is that while our politicians debate the pros and cons of the situation, two dramatic things are happening as we speak. First, the trappings of Palestinian statehood are being developed before our eyes. Second, the world is supportive of this concept and will most probably recognize such a state whether it is declared unilaterally (as Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad promises to do next year) or as part of an agreement with us.

Given these facts our government needs to do whatever it can to ensure that the outcome of all of this activity will be peace not conflict, reconciliation not war, progress not recidivism…life not death.

Elie Wiesel has said “Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give to each other.” And we may add: it is our lifeblood as well.

Sherwin Pomerantz
Jerusalem, April 21, 2010