Briefing

I've begun preparing a Topic Briefing for delegates to the Council on Palestinian Affairs for the 2003-2004 Model Arab Leagues. It's nice to have so much influence over all the discussions of these issues at all sixteen MAL conferences in the U.S., especially since the real Arab League assigns us the topics and uses our debates as a measure of American perception of the Arab world. It's like a wannabe-power-trip.

So here's my draft on our first topic.

I. Defining the proper role and limits of armed resistance in the liberation of Palestine. A. History Violence is not exactly a new phenomenon in the Middle East. Communal strife within the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan has been supplemented by periodic outside conquests for millennia. However, the twentieth century witnessed destruction on a scale never before imaginable. Civilian casualties account for an increasing percentage of casualties in wars throughout the world. At the same time, the world has become more interconnected, and recent developments in the Palestinian Conflict can be linked to the Russian economy, American electoral politics, or even the demand for illegal drugs in Western Europe. The destructiveness of modern weapons and the complex causality of the modern state system means that threatening or using force has deeper and wider consequences than ever before. Thus, opinions on the appropriate uses of force have diverged. Some lessons from the 20th century – India and South Africa, for instance – seem to suggest that nonviolent protest is more effective than armed resistance. Other lessons imply the opposite; could Hitler have been defeated without force? Even terrorism has been effective – the Jewish Palmach hastened the evacuation of Palestine by terrorizing the British occupiers in the 1940’s. Since the naqba (“catastrophe”) of 15 May 1948, Palestinian factions and individuals have used force against the occupying military and civilian population. Arab states bordering Palestine have been bases for some armed raids, while others (since 1967) have been planned and executed entirely within occupied territory. The Palestinian Liberation Operation, a coalition created by the Arab League in 1961, openly engaged in armed resistance and acts of terror until 1989 when it agreed to acknowledge their opponent’s right to exist and renounced terror. In ongoing violence that began in September, 2000, a number of Palestinian factions, some of which identify themselves as members of the P.L.O., have engaged in armed resistance. These include the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Islamic Jihad, the Tanzim, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. B. Debate Two principle issues are at stake in this debate on the role and limits of armed resistance. First of all, the morality and ethicality of using force is always a question. Who has the right to use force? Against whom? By what authority? Less ideologically, there is a second question, that of effectiveness. Does armed resistance further the Palestinian cause? Is it more important to wage war directly or to appeal as victims to the world? Because of the intense political nature of the conflict, detailed information on most acts of armed resistance are widely reported, and Palestine has undoubtedly gained headlines and airtime through acts of violence. However, while these acts increase awareness of Palestinian frustrations, they also tend to increase sympathy for those who are killed, especially civilians. C. Responsibilities of the delegate In addressing this contentious issue, each delegate must balance his or her government’s view with the sensitivity of the topic. Decorum should be maintained at all times, as well as respect for the deceased. Consider that untoward remarks by members of this august body will make our topic on improving the image of the Palestinian cause that much more difficult. Delegates should understand the content and nuances of their countries’ positions on armed resistance in general, and relating to Palestine specifically. Likewise, delegates should familiarize themselves with the histories of armed and passive resistance, and know the underlying causes and recent developments in the al-Aqsa intifada, which began in September, 2000. Some members of the League actively support armed resistance, while others oppose it, either verbally or actively. All members should remain cogent of the public responses to an Arab League resolution both in the Arab world and across the globe. Needless to say, these directions are not exhaustive, and it is the delegate’s responsibility to come fully prepared and well-read on this topic.

Anyone interested, see if your school has a program, or check out the MAL website and contact me for more info - only takes five students to start a team and compete at a regional model.