This is not intended to be a big analysis, if at all.
Yesterday, a poll was released that shows the disconnect between Palestinian leadership and the voice of the people.
Among other things, here are two findings:
Which, in your opinion, is the preferable option for the future of Palestine? Is it going to the United Nations for the recognition of the Palestinian state without concluding a peace agreement with Israel, or going back to the negotiation table with the Israelis for the sake of a permanent peace with them and then resort to the UN?59.3% said it was better to go back to the negotiating table with Israel; only 35.4% said going to the UN was preferable.
Some people say that Palestinians should hold huge peaceful demos that overrun the barriers and close the roads against the Israeli army and the settlers with the aim to force the Israelis to withdraw from the territories of the State of Palestine after the proclamation of the UN-resolution recognizing the State of Palestine, whilst others say Palestinians should carry out violent actions against the Israeli army and the settlers, and a third group of people is in favor of going back to the peaceful negotiations with the Israeli government. Which of these three opinions is the closest to yours?25.9% support demonstrations 15.2% support violence 53.4% support negotiations
The complete poll information, conducted by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion, can be found here:
Seems like the Arab spring forgot the Palestinian people.
Then there is the disconnect over matters of time.
Palestinian divisions have for the past years seemed endless, yet they were mostly political. Now, another problem has emerged: Gaza and the West Bank look like two officially separate countries, with a one-hour difference between them that confuses Palestinians and adds to their despair as far as unity in the Occupied Territories is concerned.[...]
The time difference is all the more absurd now that two adjacent universities are using two different time zones. Al-Azhar University, located in Gaza yet affiliated to Fatah, announced working according to summertime, while the Islamic University right next to it is using wintertime. The two campuses are separated by a wall.
“This is ridiculous,” said student and blogger Khaled al-Sharkawi. “I live in Gaza but my university is following the West Bank time zone.”
The university case is repeated in several other examples. Private banks and international organizations in Gaza follow West Bank time, while schools, hospitals, and public institutions follow Gaza time. The website Date and Time, which tells you the time anywhere in the world, lists both times for Palestinian territories.
Gazan journalist Sami Abu Salem points out how the time difference between Gaza and the West Bank has become a joke for Palestinians.
http://english.alarabiya.net/...
It seems the leadership of Hamas and Fateh know what is important, the time of day!! But as with the polling information, do they really speak to the interests and concerns of the Palestinian people?
And then there's the disconnect as to the objective of Palestinians as they speak of having their state. But what state?
Color me confused. If others are as well, looks like there is good reason.