Hani Smirat
Within the realm of image critique, we encounter one of the most contentious and peculiar national images in the annals of Palestinian suffering. This image is haunted by the pursuit of reaching the pinnacle of oppression, firmly anchored in a steadfast commitment to the year 2007 – a time marked by the birth of two states, two governments, and two divergent ideologies.
It portrays the aspiration to establish a liberated state where the north remains estranged from the south, serving as a stark reminder that our yearning for reconciliation is overshadowed by an insatiable appetite for division. After sixteen years of discord, this image reveals little beyond the gleaming smiles of those in power juxtaposed against the bleakness of our aspirations.
The rhetoric echoed within closed-door meetings mirrors the shortcomings of the image itself – adorned with poetic verses and prophetic declarations, yet tainted by manipulation and detrimental to the prospects of Sunni reconciliation. These words, penned in defense of vested interests and uncertain futures, lack sincerity and exacerbate the crisis of imagination, further entrenching the enmity between brethren who are divided by faith and heritage.
In closing, I beseech those endowed with fortune and longevity to correspond with us, holding onto hope that national unity may one day be resurrected – Amen.