“The Day After,” a frank column by – of all people –  Amin Howeidi, a former Egyptian minister of defence, in – of all places -  Al Jazeera.com, warns the Palestinians that the hard part may come after achieving a state.
Howeidi cites examples from the founding of Israel to demonstrate how the Palestinians will have to create true political leadership: “Theodor Herzl didn’t like the Balfour Declaration at first. In his memoirs, Herzl admitted that he was disappointed because the declaration spoke of a national homeland rather than a state. But the newborn state managed to grow and became a power to contend with. This happened because its inhabitants managed to turn the promise into reality.”
Howedi also recalls David Ben-Gurion’s sinking of the Altalina, a ship loaded with paramilitary arms, as a defining moment in Israel’s history: “Dozens of Israelis died in the attack and hundreds of Irgun members were rounded up and thrown in prison. This action arguably saved Israel.”
Not surpisingly, a lively discussion follows this piece. Read the article and follow up comments here »
/cijainfo
@CIJAinfo