On June 14th 2010, ATFP Advocacy Director Ghaith Al-Omari led a workshop on “Palestinian Politics: Challenges and Opportunities” as part of Churches for Middle East Peace 2010 Advocacy Conference.

Mr. Al-Omari discussed the various narratives relating to the internal and external challenges facing the Palestinian polity.

He explained the tensions between Palestinian trends calling for a peaceful, negotiated two-state solution on the one hand, and those rejecting such a solution and advocating for violence. He also expanded on the Palestinian domestic political implications of the ongoing efforts by the Palestinian government to build democratic, responsive institutions of statehood.

On the question of national unity, Mr. Al-Omari recognized the importance of Palestinian unity, but cautioned against any domestic arrangements that erode Palestinian commitment to non-violence and the two-state solution. He stressed, however, the need to lift the siege of Gaza irrespective of progress or the lack thereof in national Palestinian reconciliation.

He concluded by calling on peace advocates in the United States to support Palestinian trends that call for a secular, democratic Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace and security.