"Dear Tarek...." A Letter From Palestine

The Palestinian Dilemma: Nasrallah the Undisputed Sayyid?

HEBRON, Occupied West Bank - The Palestinians are not sure which way to turn and what to hope for, or if to hope for anything at all. However, one thing is for sure and unmistakable: Nasrallah is the undisputed Sayyid.

He is the man of the moment. That notwithstanding, the memory of Saddam Hussain remains painfully fresh in the minds of Palestinians. They remember when they had hoped he would be their saviour when he sent the highly ineffectual Scud missiles raining on Israel. Against that back drop, and the mammoth disappointment the Palestinians face, at the very least they appreciate the timing of the daring Hizbollah operation.

Rightly or wrongly Palestinians believe that the situation in Lebanon has provided them a partner in misery. The pressure against Gaza has eased slightly, although the assault is unabated.

Morale and psychology are important, if not essential, for a vanquished people. For today Palestinians are, while incredibly resilient and steadfast, crushed. This is why they believe that they dare not hope, fearing that if they did, they will be devastated yet again.

People's view of what's happening in Lebanon can be divided into three predictable camps.

1. The first one believes that the operation of Hizbollah is not in the interest of the Palestinians in the short, medium and long run. This opinion is informed by a collective history of failures. The Palestinians in this camp are jaded, bitter and hopeless.

2. The second group is the one that believe it is an exceptionally courageous act against an army that occupies Lebanon and holds Lebanese prisoners. The timing, however, is what they do not agree with. This camp tend to be associated with the official Palestinian line.

3. The last group is the one that is completely inspired by this, hopeful and faithful. They are the mothers and fathers of more than 10,000 Palestinian political prisoners, many of whom were kidnapped at gun points and in battles. This is the view that the people in the street are expressing. A typical prayer now is for the Arab leaders to keep away from Hassan Nasrallah, for they are " a plaque of no remedy" as my sage uncle Taha pronounced the other night. All however are angry at the "Sunni triangle" of Egypt, Saudi and Jordan.

Like almost everything else, the Palestinian view of the crisis is often contradictory and emotional, which is fine. They need that for hope and survival. To understand the impact of taking two Israeli soldiers as prisoners, can only be fully understood when one comes face to face with a mother of a Palestinian prisoner. Nothing moves Palestinians more than their prisoners captive in Israeli jails. I spoke to one such mother. She was filled with hope of seeing her son, she is preparing his room, making all of his favourite foods and praying very hard and sincerely.

This encounter is a powerful reminder of the importance of what is taking place. Whether this will be yet a another fabulous disappointment or glorious celebration remains to be seen.

Love from Palestine, I am off to eat mahshi koosa (stuffed zucchini).

Jehad Aliweiwi

Jehad Aliweiwi is a member of the Board of Directors of the Muslim Canadian Congress, former executive director of the Canadian Arab Federation. He writes this letter to me from Hebron, where he is visiting to attend his younger brother's wedding.