One can argue that sumud, or steadfast perseverance, is a Palestinian ideological theme and a political strategy par excellence. It is not a new concept, and many have written extensively about it. It’s actually a basic prerequisite to any path that we Palestinians have chosen or will choose in order to achieve our freedom and our independent state. In many, if not all, cases, our mere existence constitutes a formidable challenge to those who would like us to vanish into thin air. Can’t get any more basic than that.
Strategists claim that winning a war means achieving the goals set for it. We all know though that superiority in strength does not guarantee victory. Vietnam was certainly not stronger militarily than the United States, and Hezbollah wasn’t anywhere near as powerful as Israel in 2006. Regarding us, I will give you one guess as to who the stronger party is! It would be great if the fantasy of David and Goliath could work for us, but I wouldn’t count on it. So what do we do? How do we achieve our independence after decades of de-development, with economic hardship and political schism, to mention a few of our qualifications? I hope you’re not expecting a magical formula from these 500 words. However, as dim as the situation appears, there is indeed a light at the end of the tunnel.
I don’t believe that many would agree with me that the solution to our problem will not come from within. I believe we are too weak to have any meaningful impact politically. We surely have proven to be a class-A nuisance and pain in where the sun doesn’t shine, but no more than that. The proof is actually in the pudding. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty that we can do before we get to the solution. First and foremost, we need to be steadfast till that moment comes. Teachers need to continue teaching, painters need to keep painting, surgeons need to operate and heal, poets need to compose poems, and cellists need to bow their cellos. This is sumud. We need to pave the way for students to pursue their higher education, we should continue to empower women, establish and strengthen the rule of law, and build our infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and factories. Oh, there is so much we need to do.
Now for the good news! The geopolitical situation both regionally and globally is most definitely changing. Don’t be fooled by empty rhetoric, theatrical stunts, and futile economic sanctions. There are new powers emerging from the East that will challenge the existing world order which, in fact, is showing signs of weakness and disintegration. The collapse of Thomas Cook, yes, but Brexit (for starters) is what I’m talking about. In less than ten years, we will be living in a different world. Only then will there be hope of solving the question of Palestine.
Long live Palestine.