A 1990 Palestinian poster depicting resistance against the Israeli occupation.

It’s surprising how little was written to mark 20 years since the beginning of the 1987 Palestinian uprising, usually named “The First Intifada.” Even among the Palestinian population of the occupied Palestinian territories, there were almost no public events to commemorate what has been the most important popular challenge to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. 

The Intifada was the last anti-colonial uprising of the 20^th century, following the Mau Mau revolt in Kenya, the Algerian revolution and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa, amongst others.

In December 1987, the population of Gaza and the West Bank initiated simultaneous mass demonstrations and a general strike aimed at saying, loud and clear, to the whole world and to the Israeli population in particular, “enough is enough! We don't want Israeli occupation anymore! We want to be free!" Intifada was indeed the best Arabic concept to describe what was happening: it expresses the attempt of the horse to overthrow its rider. The general strike lasted for three years—daily demonstrations and confrontations with the occupation forces forced Israeli and international public opinion to acknowledge the obvious: the occupation has not been normalized and the Palestinian population is united in its demand to end it, now.

The price paid by the Palestinian insurgents was extremely high: in 30 months, more than 1,200 unarmed civilians, men, women and especially children, were murdered by the Israeli military. Nevertheless, their struggle paid off: Israeli public opinion gradually changed and a strong solidarity movement developed that ultimately forced the government to end its rejectionist policy and to open negotiations with the PLO, with the goal of ending two decades of occupation-colonization. In the international arena, the Palestinian demand for freedom and sovereignty was endorsed not only by popular public opinion, but—with the obvious exception of the US—by the international community too.

Israeli soldiers out in force during an anti-Bush demonstration in West Jerusalem in front of the US Consulate

On the surface, there is no apparent political reason for the arrival of the US President to Israel and his extended stay in the country. Apart from photo opportunities with Ehud Olmert and Mahmoud Abbas, the President did not and could not contribute to any real political process. No one takes George Bush seriously, including the citizens of his own country or the majority within his own political party, where those ‘close’ to him are anxiously counting the days they must yet suffer him in power. 

Perhaps this is the sole reason for his visit to Israel: only in Israel is George Bush treated with dignity and respect. Only here are people willing to crawl before him. Not only government officials, such as Olmert, Livni or Netanyahu, but also the average citizen. Apart from taxi drivers who complained bitterly—and justifiably—about the partial closure imposed on the city, Jerusalemites accepted with love the numerous harassments caused by our visitor. Bursting with pride that the leader of the free world honored them with his presence, the people of Israel closely followed every step and declaration of the US President, excited by every bit of nonsense he uttered.