States of Resistance: The Future of Palestinian Liberation

Socialism 2017

August 15, 2017

A paradox confronts the movement for Palestinian liberation. On the one hand, the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement has mobilized unprecedented support for the struggle of the Palestinians internationally, putting the rights of Palestinian refugees and Palestinian citizens of Israel back at the center of the movement's demands after two decades of the "peace process" that reduced the Palestinian struggle to a question of statehood in the West Bank and Gaza. On the other hand, conditions in Palestine are among the worst faced since 1948. The historic leadership of the Palestinian movement is now collaborating with Israel's occupation, through the mechanism of the Palestinian Authority. In Gaza, Hamas' resistance has failed to cohere in a form capable of advancing the liberation struggle. Meanwhile, settlement expansion continues in the West Bank. In this paradoxical situation, what will it take to build an effective movement capable of challenging Israel and accomplishing fundamental change for Palestinians?

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