photo #9436663

Hello, I am Palestinian. And since honesty is rare in my politics, let me admit a few things. 1947. The UN offered me a state. Alongside Israel. Borders, independence, recognition. I said no. My leaders promised the war would "throw the Jews into the sea." Instead, I lost everything and it was called the Nakba. Not because I was not offered a state, but because I rejected it. 1948–2025. The Arab states could have integrated me, given me rights, passports, dignity. Instead, they kept me in refugee camps for generations, so I would remain a weapon against Israel. They built palaces for themselves and cages for me. They used me as propaganda, not as a human being. 1967. After another war I lost, I could have built a state in the West Bank and Gaza. Instead, I insisted on "no peace, no recognition, no negotiations." Three no's. Fifty years later, I am still without a state. It turns out rejection does not pay the rent. Oslo, the 1990s. Israel said: "Let's try." It gave me autonomy. Weapons for the police. Billions of dollars in aid. What did my leaders do? They stole the money, armed militias, and launched an Intifada. Suicide bombings instead of schools. Rockets instead of factories. Gaza, 2005. Israel left completely. No settlers, no soldiers. I got a chance to turn Gaza into the Singapore of the Mediterranean. I voted for Hamas. They turned it into Mogadishu by the sea. Billions of dollars in aid? Tunnels, rockets, and palaces for their leaders, while my people eat canned food in the dark. Democracy? I have not had elections for almost 20 years. Hamas kills opponents in Gaza. Fatah jails them in the West Bank. My leaders cancel elections because they are too busy fighting over power. Religion. Instead of building a future, I put clerics on television who teach children to hate Jews. I praise the "martyrs" who blow up buses. I raise my children with songs of blood and fire instead of books and science. I replace hope with holy war. The Arab world. Arab regimes call me "brother." But ask them how many Palestinians can live freely in Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, or Kuwait. They marginalize me, but celebrate my death, because my death is their excuse. Absurdity. I keep saying I want to "build a state." And ironically, right next to Israel: the neighbor that built a thriving democracy, a technological superpower, farms in the desert, cities from dust. Without oil, without endless wealth, only with courage. I could have learned, copied, cooperated. Instead, I chose jealousy and anger. Anti-Jewish obsession. I could have accepted Jews as neighbors. I could have said: "Two nations, two states." Instead, I repeat: "From the river to the sea." Instead of presenting respect, hospitality, and rich Arab culture, I presented only the culture of the sword: anger, extremism, and blood. Instead of shouting salam (peace) to Israelis, I shouted death to Jews. And then I wonder why Israelis do not trust me, why they are angry, disappointed, and convinced that I do not want coexistence at all. Responsibility. I blame Israel for everything. Always. My leaders steal billions? Israel's fault. Hamas fires rockets from hospitals? Israel's fault. I praise death more than life? Israel's fault. Responsibility is not my strong suit. I am Palestinian. I could have built a nation, many times. I chose rejection, corruption, and endless war. I could have lived in peace with Israel, but I chose to live in the shadow of its destruction. So yes, I am a victim. But too often, I am a victim of my own leaders, my own decisions, and my own refusal to abandon hatred. And that, dear reader, is the tragedy no one wants to admit.