There are parallels between the occupations of Afghanistan and Palestine – Center East Monitor

The Palestinian public noticed keenly the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. For many Palestinians, it represented a window of hope and a serious morale increase; if the best world energy might be defeated then certainly the Israeli occupation might be defeated as properly.

But, there was a stark distinction between the response to the withdrawal from Hamas and the opposite resistance factions and that from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Predictably, Hamas welcomed the American transfer and congratulated the folks of Afghanistan and the Taliban for liberating their land. PA spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh opted to not tackle the Afghan folks however as a substitute addressed the Israeli authorities. He used the withdrawal to warn the Israelis that the identical may occur to them, as they’re additionally depending on international assist in the event that they proceed to violate the rights of the Palestinian folks and deny them a viable, unbiased state. After all, Abu Rudeineh didn’t intend to attract a parallel between the PA and the Taliban. Quite the opposite, he made many Palestinians ponder the similarities between Ashraf Ghani’s US-backed puppet authorities in Kabul and the PA run by Mahmoud Abbas.

Many have in contrast the collapse of Ghani’s authorities to what occurred in Gaza in 2006/7, when a a lot smaller variety of forces loyal to the election-winning motion, Hamas, defeated Fatah-dominated PA safety forces to take safety in addition to political management of the coastal territory. Just like the Taliban, Hamas fought forces backed by a international enemy and loved public assist, whereas the PA selected to chop offers with the occupation and stays each corrupt and unpopular.

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Now Abbas and his authorities are fighting the fallout of the killing of activist Nizar Banat, who was killed whereas detained by PA safety forces. Banat was a distinguished critic of Abbas and the PA, whose recognition and legitimacy have hit a file low. Certainly, the official rhetoric is so unpopular that many Palestinians have declared that the PA is not more than an Israeli safety device to suppress the folks of occupied Palestine.

When six Palestinian prisoners escaped from Israel’s high-security Gilboa Jail final week (4 of whom have since been recaptured), the Palestinian folks celebrated throughout the West Financial institution. Experiences that the PA could be collaborating with the Israeli occupation forces in monitoring the escapees down prompted outrage on social media, including to the distress of the Ramallah-based authority with its dwindling credibility and assist.

Abbas’s cancellation of the Palestinian elections earlier this yr did not assist. Nor did his statements in regards to the Israeli aggression in Jerusalem and in opposition to the Palestinians within the Gaza Strip in Could.

There’s a debate in Israel over what’s extra helpful to the occupation state: destroying the PA or protecting it in place to serve the Israeli safety agenda and filling a political area that might be taken by Hamas if the PA is dissolved. The collapse of Ghani’s authorities in Kabul as quickly because the US troops left Afghanistan brings this to thoughts.

The communist authorities in Afghanistan beneath President Mohammad Najibullah lasted 4 years after the Soviet withdrawal in 1988/89 earlier than it collapsed. Ghani’s authorities fell even earlier than the final American soldier had left. Why? For the Soviets, Afghan communists have been comrades, whereas the Individuals solely create puppets, and when the puppeteer walks away, the present ends. Whereas the Afghan communist regime was extremely motivated ideologically, the “liberal” authorities was mired in corruption. It took the Soviets ten years to grasp that you simply can’t win in Afghanistan; it took the Individuals twenty years to succeed in the identical conclusion.

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What did the Individuals obtain in Afghanistan? The occupation value US taxpayers round $300 million a day for 20 years; hundreds of US and allied troopers have been killed and wounded, and tens of hundreds of Afghans have been additionally killed and wounded. America has left behind a fractured financial system, a flourishing medicine commerce, and no actual political system, not to mention a democratic authorities. Waves of Afghan refugees have headed to Europe by means of Iran and Turkey. And US troops deserted an estimated $80 billion price of navy {hardware}, together with Black Hawk assault helicopters. Above all, the US withdrawal has made each Iran and China very blissful.

Occupation is the worst type of aggression no matter who the occupier is. What’s relevant to Afghanistan on this respect as we speak, might sooner or later quickly apply in occupied Palestine.

The views expressed on this article belong to the writer and don’t essentially replicate the editorial coverage of Center East Monitor.