Dubai: The Palestinian cause will never be forgotten, neither by the media nor on politician grounds, said Dr Mustafa Bargouthi, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, on the second day of the Arab Media forum.
Dr Bargouthi spoke during a session titled ‘Has the media forgotten the Palestinian cause?’ on Wednesday, which discussed the many reasons that will keep the Palestinian cause alive.
Dr Barghouthi said the Palestinian cause cannot be forgotten because the Palestinians are now in a crucial stage. The struggle they are facing right now is to exist or not exist, after Israel has settled its decision regarding whether there can be an independent Palestinian state in its latest elections.
“In conclusion we are not only witnessing the biggest occupation in the history of humankind and the largest displacement of refugees in 67 years but we are witnessing before our eyes the formation of the worst apartheid discriminating system in the history of our modern world.”
He said before being an Arab Muslim cause, it is a humanitarian cause and so it will never be forgotten.
“Some people can forget what is happening to the people of Palestine, some people can forget all the massacres happening in Gaza. But they can’t forget what is happening in [occupied] Jerusalem. They can’t forget the Judaisation operations happening now in Al Aqsa Mosque. It is a deeply present cause and cannot be ignored.”
The big question now is can we still talk about the two state solution, said Bargouthi, or are we talking now about other options. Consequently, what is happening now is drawing the media, people and politicians to the rightness of the Palestinian cause.
“We must not forget that the Palestinian cause today is in a time when the Arab world is witnessing many divisions, and the Palestinian cause used to be and will still be the first and only cause that Arabs can unite for.”
Dr Barghouti said another reason why the Palestinian cause cannot be forgotten is the result of what is happening now in the Arab world, it is the first time we are seeing Arab powers form in a military operation (Storm of Resolve). He said the Arab world is also buying a lot of weapons and in this time of chaos we see the rise of extremist groups.
He said taking all these factors into consideration; he said he doesn’t think Israel can stay out of what is happening in the Arab world for long.
“Until when can Arabs — who are capable of forming an effective power — accept Israeli dominance in the region, especially when everything happening that harms Arabs and their stability in the region points at Israel? Therefore there can be no stability in the region without dealing with the Palestinian cause.”
He said the Palestinians themselves have a role in keeping the media attention on them and he names three factors that can help keep the Palestinian cause on the table.
“The first is to never liquidate the Palestinian cause through false and empty agreements. Secondly, to escalate the Palestinian popular resistance and boycott Israel goods as well as withdraw investments with them.”
