The New International Order... and the Palestinian State

The international system is like a living organism; it changes and evolves, strengthens and weakens, and never remains the same. The international system in the nineteenth century is not like the international system in the twentieth century. Speaking of which, the nineteenth-century conflicts between colonial powers led to the First World War, which surprised everyone with the number of its dead and the number of participants. This war led to the birth of a new international system that sought to establish international peace and stability. The League of Nations was established in 1919 in an attempt by this system to prevent war after everyone saw the horrors of the First World War. However, the League of Nations failed to provide solutions or confront the new military alliances. The international system at the beginning of the twentieth century reflected the will of the victorious nations and their ambitions and greed, which they were unable to curb. Therefore, several more years did not pass until World War II erupted between the colonial powers of the West once again. For the first time, the world was surprised by the explosion of a terrifying nuclear bomb capable of wiping out countries and people. The victors again convened to establish an international organization capable of resolving differences and settling disputes away from destructive war. Thus, the United Nations emerged, including The Security Council, which includes the five victorious powers, is capable of controlling the world, punishing aggressors, and encouraging cooperation and development initiatives.

After more than seventy-five years since the founding of the United Nations, this organization has also failed to resolve many conflicts and disputes. There were successes, but the encroachment of colonial powers was stronger. The period between 1945 and 1991 witnessed a cold war between two great powers, the Soviet Union and the United States. The conflict between them was over everything: wealth, countries, ideology, and influence. The Arab world paid a heavy price as a result of this war, while the Palestinian people also paid a lot, as the global dispute delayed, obstructed, or was not serious about a just solution.

After 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and the world became ruled by a single global power, the United States. We also paid the price for this, through the Oslo Accords, which reflected the defeat of the liberation forces at the hands of the colonial West. This leads us to claim that the League of Nations at the beginning of the twentieth century legitimized Britain's occupation of our country, which was called the Mandate. Meanwhile, the United Nations in the mid-twentieth century decided to partition our country, and even this decision was not respected. When the world became a single pole, we were asked to make a historic settlement with our occupier under the guise of a dubious settlement. However, the international system, no matter how secure, is made for the strong, and the weak must pay. In major transformations, there are bound to be victims.

The third millennium witnessed a momentous phenomenon: multipolarity, a massive distribution of nuclear powers, and the rise of major powers with or seeking influence. This was accompanied by the United States, Israel, and other countries seeking to bypass the United Nations and its institutions. This culminated in America and Israel threatening the International Criminal Court and imposing sanctions on it. Israel also failed to implement any resolution regarding its withdrawal from the occupied territories, while other countries did so in a humiliating manner. These behaviors necessitate the birth of a new international order that reflects multipolarity, changes in political geography, and the nature of alliances. It is entirely possible that new ambitions and alliances could lead to a third devastating war. Here, the opportunity is ripe, as we see in Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, as well as America's new expansionist and aggressive tendencies. The new world order, whose features have clearly begun to emerge, is manifested in the bypassing of new international bodies, contempt for international law, the rapid formation of alliances and poles outside the United Nations, and the lack of funding for the international organization or the political conditions that hinder its work.

The question is: Since the new world order is taking shape before our eyes, what is the role of the Arabs, and consequently the role of the Palestinian people, in this order?!

Will we be among the victims who pay the price for this transformation? Or will we be completely absent from the scene? Or will we and our Arab nation have another say?

If the Palestinian people are the sacrifice offered in the massacre of the great ones, such that the Palestinian homeland was lost on the table of the League of Nations, should we wait, God forbid, to be divided again or to be erased forever?

To answer this question, it is related to the Arab system, which enjoys all the conditions and wealth that qualify it to have a strong presence at the international table, and to impose its agendas and interests on the world. The Arab world lacks nothing in order to be present in the new world order through its diplomacy, moderation, ability, and its rulers who have learned the lesson well. And until we all emerge, Arabs and Palestinians, and until we have a place under the sun in the new order, this Arab position will not succeed in protecting the Palestinian cause, the two-state solution, preventing the elimination of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as well as protecting the legitimate leadership, and confronting the idea of displacing the Palestinian people, if there is no clear Palestinian strategy based on:

• Ending the shameful Palestinian division, unity of ranks, unity of position, and the inclusion of all under the banner of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and strengthening its legitimacy for the Palestinian people, as the sole representative.

• Strengthening relations with Arab countries, by unifying visions and taking into consideration what some countries are offering regarding the development of Palestinian leadership frameworks, and most importantly, the unity of the Fatah movement, the guarantor of Palestinian nationalism.

• Strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people on the ground, and pushing towards a broad and pure peaceful popular resistance, especially in areas classified as (C).

• Work hard to ensure that the Palestinian Authority assumes its legal, administrative, and security authority over the Gaza Strip, and reunifies and rebuilds Palestinian institutions in a way that the international community sees as the institutions of the Palestinian state being complete, transparent, and capable of leadership.

• Raising the banner of defending our institutions and the city of Jerusalem, and strengthening the steadfastness of the people of the Holy City.

• Work hard to contain Israeli policy, especially on the media, political and legal levels, and activate all forces of Palestinian society, including popular diplomacy.

• Permanent adherence to international legitimacy resolutions, and making efforts with Arab brothers and all friends to support the implementation of these resolutions.

• Review alliances, taking into account international balances, and enabling relations with China, Russia, and emerging countries such as India and Brazil.

Protecting the idea of statehood is the responsibility of all Palestinians, under a unified Arab umbrella, especially from the moderate Arab states that are now capable of playing a significant role in international politics.

The world is changing rapidly, and the unipolar system has failed to achieve lasting peace. Consequently, we are facing the formation of a new international system based on multipolarity. This means the birth of new international bodies, perhaps new states, and new alliances. Multipolarity means the distribution of power and influence at the expense of the weak. In order not to be victims of this system, and in order not to pay the price through absence or surrender, it is necessary for us to find an effective way to be present and participate in this world. As for our country, Palestine, it has taken a long time to be part of a global system with multiple visions, powers, and alliances.

Whatever the nature of the new international order, the establishment of a Palestinian state will remain dependent on Palestinian readiness, our people's commitment to the right of self-determination, and the firm Arab position committed to an independent Palestinian state.