TURNING THE FURY INWARDS:

Isolated and Angry, Gaza Battles Itself, Too: It is something of a historical paradox that Gaza -- poorer than the West Bank -- would emerge as the proving ground of a Palestinian state. (JAMES BENNET, 7/16/04, NY Times)

Some Palestinians glimpse in an Israeli pullout a new chance at statehood, a chance to create a model of self-rule that will spread to the West Bank, leading to a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

But 10 years after Yasir Arafat returned in triumph to Gaza under a previous experiment in self-rule, the Oslo peace process, these would-be leaders are scrambling for a way forward. The alternative, they say, is all too clear: a destitute enclave ruled by warlords and militants, an outcome they fear will doom their national movement.

As the panelists suffered under the lacerating questions, one of them, a Palestinian legislator and political scientist named Ziad Abu Amr, finally fired back: "Do you want us to lie to you concerning the depression you are suffering from? You know who is determining everything. Arafat hasn't proposed a vision for the Palestinian people."

While he spoke, a murmur swept the room. Flanked by beefy bodyguards, Muhammad Dahlan strode through the door. He was to give the next talk, "An Independent Vision."

Mr. Dahlan, for years the leader of the Preventive Security Force in Gaza, is more feared than loved here.

But he is favored by Israeli, European and American officials as strong enough to run Gaza, and he has embarked on a political campaign. He sees the Israeli withdrawal as an opportunity - for the Palestinians and maybe for himself - and he is determined to take advantage of it.

Like many other Palestinians, he says Israel has deliberately sown chaos by striking at the Palestinian Authority during the conflict, an accusation Israel denies. Now, he argues, if the Palestinians fail here, Israel will point to the example and refuse to cede more of the West Bank.

Mr. Dahlan is not a reckless man, and his speech was cautious. But then came the barrage of questions. The moderators tried to avoid the woman in black, but she would not be denied, seizing the microphone to stridently challenge what she saw as a muddled speech.

Mr. Dahlan raised his own voice in return, and his message grew stronger as well. He asked if Palestine wanted to go the way of Iraq or Libya. Palestinians could either build a model in Gaza, or embrace "chaos and destruction."

It's the genius of statehood, imposing responsibility on the Palestians for the sorry status of their society.

Posted by Orrin Judd at July 16, 2004 7:55 AM