14. Dec.2015, PAYN team held a meeting with group of the active youth entitled “Youth and policy options for the Palestinian factions ” in the presence of Mr. Nathan stock and Mr. Tahsin Allani from The Carter Center for peace.
The meeting has focused primarily on two main themes: young’s opinions about options on the Palestinian arena and youth’s vision for the future of these options. The discussion was opened with a short presentation dealt with the latest statistics of Palestinian youth participation within the Palestinian parties. Under the first theme views of youth varied, they unanimously agreed that the Palestinians have three basic options: armed resistance, engage in peaceful operation, or peaceful resistance. Young believes that all political options are missing for good planning and governance. Moreover, the Palestinian Division has an impact on these options which leads to dysfunction in the Palestinian political system. During the discussion, some active youth questioned whether the options have a full schema to serve the Palestinian cause or just these options deal with the cause according to the circumstances. In the same context, Some youth argued that both options are not able to achieve the objectives of the strategy for the liberation of Palestine because Palestinians become prisoners of their own choices to survive. Others saw that both resistance and negotiation work when they are put in the right environment for both. While others stressed the choice of resistance because Palestine is right for the Palestinians and rights can’t be restored by negotiation. However, negotiations can work if it used as a tool for resistance. Youth activist came out with a series of future visions of these options including the collapse of the peaceful political process, the Palestinians’ guide towards extremism in the revolutionary option, and the emergence of an alternative Palestinian option. Moreover, if the Palestinians didn’t find a solution, the solution will be imposed on them.
For his part, Mr. stock was impressed by holding such meetings at the House of Wisdom which can be instrumental in the Palestinian arena. Mr. Stoke talked about the responsibility of the international community and the Carter Center towards the Palestinians which they bifurcate to the responsibility to put an end to the suffering of Palestinians in their occupied territories and the responsibility of policies that the British Government provide support to Israel and not to the Palestinians. Mr. stock argued that the negotiations themselves are neutral, neither good nor bad, but the problem in the context that surrounds them. He added that the Palestinian negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinian Authority give up the right of return and resides Palestinian state at the borders of the 67 territories and East Jerusalem. According to Mr. stock, the choice of resistance works and not work. However, Resistance can practice a pressure on Israel in which it forced Israel to leave the Gaza Strip and reduce settlement. But resistance must be agreed by all parties. Mr. stock end his speech with some of the recommendations including establish a national movement , connect with young Palestinians in the West Bank and move ahead with serious goals that employs energies for the sake of Palestine. At the end, Mr. Tahsin Allani said that options are not enough because the they may change from time to time. He added that we have to be accustomed to the surrounding circumstances and to work continuously to achieve our goals that we miss in the current stage.
