Engaging the Popular Resistance

The Middle East has experienced colonialism, empire, war and history; eons of it. These experiences allow for the region to be a breeding ground of great ironies. Another ironic moment happened this week. On Nov. 2nd, 1917, then British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour declared the intentions of His Majesty's Government to change the face of Palestine. We all know what followed.

So I suppose it is only fitting that the current British Foreign Secretary William Hague made history again after arriving in the region two days ago on the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration. The Independent reports:

William Hague, the British Foreign Secretary, is to take the unusual step today of meeting Palestinian activists involved in regular unarmed protests and demonstrations against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

Mr Hague, on his first visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since becoming Foreign Secretary in May, is expected to hold talks with representatives from two West Bank villages whose residents hold regular protests against the route of the military's separation barrier and against settlements.

The visit is important because it represents a connection, for the first time as far as I can tell, between the traditional and formal diplomatic channels and the non-violent popular struggle. In this Hebrew language Haaretz article, which didn't make it into the English language edition, Hague is quoted saying to the activists that because of Israeli intransigence "popular resistance is the only possible alternative for Palestinians to achieve their rights".

Check for seismic activity around Balfour's grave.

It's hard to understand what kind of effect this will have but many of us who have watched as these popular resistance movements have developed and struggled under the radar have wondered just what could happen if the tactics, methods and strategies of these movements could be adopted broadly by Palestinian leadership along with, or in place of, American led negotiations.

Joseph Dana, who covers the popular struggle regularly, will be speaking on these movements, their repression and their potential here at the Palestine Center on Nov. 9th. If you are in the DC area RSVP and come on down and if you can't make it to DC you can always catch the live web-cast of the event and participate in the Q&A via twitter (@palestinecenter) or our chat box.

Also, if you have not seen Budrus, an acclaimed film on this very issue, its being screened tonight in DC at the West End Cinema. It's definitely worth checking out.

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