French historian .. And a different look to Gaza in new author
A French historian Jean-Pierre Filho after several visits to Gaza, a book recently published in Paris, which he addressed the city's position in the formation of Palestinian history and its importance in solving the central Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This was the subject of the interview before the envoy channel "Russia Today".
The following is a transcript of the interview
Q - Why did you decide to go to Gaza and to write its history?
C - I am a historian and professor in Paris. Since 30 years old and I am interested in this subject, and noted that it did not address the manner in which you have made. Gaza was always treated as if on the margin, as if they are secondary, what I have sent a surprise, because the Gaza Strip on the contrary. It was in the heart of Palestinian history since the Nakba. In Gaza, the movement originated in the Gaza militants was born the nucleus of the Fatah movement in Gaza, the resistance against the Israeli occupation of 67 is the strongest, and continued for four years. In Gaza, Hamas was born in Gaza, the first intifada broke out in Gaza, Palestinian Authority, have stabilized. And from there began divorce persists between Hamas and Fatah, and this is the date on which you want to Osrdh taking Gaza in the heart of events.
Q - What Akchwtm in Gaza?
C - the first parts of the whole of Palestinian history I was not aware of the size of their importance. For example, the start of the winter of 1948 was more terrible than the others talked about. There are those who died of hunger and there are those who died from the cold and all this has disappeared even from the relatively more severe novels. There is also the aspect of resistance to the occupation of the first fifty-six and seven and fifty, were very strong and included all the elements of resistance, ranging from the Baathists to Islamists. There is also the way in which withstood the Strip for four years through a strong battle against the Israelis to one year and seventy and then fell because of the attack, which involved a large and Sharon is the one who shattered.
Q - Do you think that the West know the truth of Gaza?
C - I think there are a lot of preconceived ideas and stereotypes about Gaza which prevents the vision of truth, and that tried to collect these form the historical truth. Mainly in Gaza, as in other regions, an overwhelming majority of people want to live a normal life, and they are not fighters and activists, and even these people have a sense of a strong national, because the date made in Gaza sense of patriotism Filstunaih stronger than elsewhere, it is a closed area I say that the possession of the Palestinian flag in Gaza seems to automatically more than other regions, because it is the only land of historic Palestine that were not previously is not an Israeli and not Jordanian.
Q - If you want to send a letter today to the west, what is this letter?
C - my message is very simple. Gaza first .. Gaza must begin a peace process if we are honest .. We must not delude ourselves.
In Gaza, must lay the foundations of this peace, because there is no problem and the problem of the limits of settlements there. We have problems with respect and equality in dealings between Israeli and Palestinian peoples and that's what should work on it and I think that this test will be to achieve a genuine and real.
Q - Do you think that the Palestinians and Israelis to accept the existence of each other?
C - I think that in all cases, there is no other alternative for this coexistence. Does not necessarily mean having a lot of good feelings shared, but only to recognize that there is no place other than this place is divided among them.
comment on blog