The Actualization of Independent State of Palestine: Palestine Liberation Organization’s Contribution and the Emergence of HAMAS

Abstract

There is much of intra-Arab rivalry in the region of the State of Palestine, fueled majorly by conflict of personal interests and less of collective interest. The aim of this study is to assess the efforts made by the Palestine Liberation Force (PLO) to build an Independent State of Palestine despite the obvious challenges, and identify the efforts made by Palestine Islamic Resistance's Movement (HAMAS) to fill the socio-economic structural gap created by the failure of PLO and the impact of external influences. The study uses the structural conflict and human needs as well as power sharing theories to provide the intellectual pillars on which the discourse stands. The study outlines the problems of the Palestinians to include corrupt practices among the then government officials under the Fatah party, unemployment, poverty, decaying infrastructure, insecurity, and intra-Arab rivalry: religious fundamentalism, challenges of power sharing, mistrust of unrestricted authority of individuals and of the concentration of power in one office, existence of socio-economic as well as political and religious challenges. Based on the foregoing, the study opines that democracy and good governance are the twin tools with which structural conflict and human needs crises can be resolved. Democracy is possible among the PalestinianArabs- a highly homogenous society where one religion (Islam) is practiced, one language (Arabic) is spoken, and Arabic patriotism is cherished. The paper proposes that the Palestinian-Arabs should exploit their homogeneity as a tool for nation building by erecting democratic structures where the hand of everyone will be seen, and the voice of everyone will be heard through a democratically elected representative.