Dialogue the only solution for the Gaza Strip

By Chiara Caprio

“There are no alternative solutions: the international community has to step in to close check points and include Palestinian political parties in the development process” says the director of a German pro-democracy organization working in the West Bank.

Joachim Paul runs the Heinrich Boell Foundation’s office in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority. From his “privileged” position in the heart of the West Bank he portrays the picture of a crisis that is more political than humanitarian. And one that is fast approaching its tipping point.

How would you describe the situation in the Palestinian territories now?

There has been a huge outcry against what happened here in Ramallah and there have been demonstrations in the territories. In the Gaza Strip the huge demonstration that authorities were calling for didn’t happen. There was a general strike on Monday, ordered by the authorities, and now a few Turkish flags can be seen as well as smaller demonstrations.

Why do you think the Israeli authorities reacted like this to the Freedom Flotilla?

Even though boats have been arriving since 2008, there is a difference this time. In the past there were fewer ships and fewer activists. The ships that arrived Sunday night were part of a big flotilla and the people on board were more organized. They were clearly backed by the Muslim world -Turkey first – and this explains why from a political point of view the situation is different.

I think that more and more boats will come and that it will be difficult to continue a policy of containment. But there is also the need for a political agreement. The EU and the international community must act because we cannot leave unanswered questions on how to solve the situation in Gaza.

What can the international community do?

They should make pressure to open checkpoints, to promote a political change and a new attitude towards Gaza and the occupation.

What role can the European Union play in the future?

As far as Gaza is concerned I think the EU has to include Hamas in the political process. Although it is true that there is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, more important even than that is the political crisis in the Strip which is leading to a crisis of dignity. The EU should find a way to make Hamas and Fatah enter jointly into a political process supported by the EU.

Do you think this is realistic? Israel is very clear about its considering this a threat to its internal security…

Right, but there are no other choices. Things will just get worse in the near future if no dialogue is established. There is no time to loose. Things have already started getting worse for people who used to be in contact with Israeli society through the tunnels used to export goods to Israel. Because of last year’s attack they have lost their business and are now completely isolated. They suffer more than others do for the closure of the tunnels. The tunnels are controlled by another community which is controlled by Hamas. The worst aspect is that this has a negative impact on education too.

For example … ?

The government of the West Bank has asked its teachers to stay at home so Hamas has come with its teachers, who are not well trained and have a different approach. This has not been good for education. Under isolation, there is the tendency to a more ideological, extreme and fundamentalist direction. That’s why I think there is no time to loose. We will have a group of marginalised and desperate people. This is the opposite of human development. We cannot sit and wait. We have to set up every kind of measure that can integrate instead of exclude.

What steps has your organization taken following the flotilla raid?

We are in touch with our partners in the Gaza Strip and we are working with them, trying to understand how the political situation will develop.

What are your projects in Gaza and the West Bank?

We are a green political foundation. We promote the use of renewable energy and we fight the negative environmental effect of Israeli occupation in the West Bank. In Gaza we work with fragile group of people, students and women, and are opposed to Hamas’ policy. We also have an office in Tel Aviv which works to promote knowledge about Palestinian situation in Jerusalem. 

www.boell-ameo.org