Aug 30, 2013

For the first time in decades, a major confrontation is about to take place in the Middle East in which Palestinians are totally uninvolved. The expected attack against Syria and the potential for the widening of the theater of war to neighboring countries has so far totally excluded Palestine. One informal chart shows lines of support and hatred between the various countries and parties in the region, with no mention of Palestine and Palestinians.

Part of the reason for confidence that Palestinians will not be on the receiving end of any retaliatory attack is the simple fact that in all direct and indirect threats by the Syrian government against Israel, Turkey and Jordan, the Palestinians have never been mentioned. In fact, Syrians, and for that matter, many other Arab regional powers, are competing to support Palestinians the most.

Syria holds a political dilemma for the Palestinians. Palestinian refugees in the Yarmouk camp in Damascus, the largest in Syria, have been caught between both sides and suffered as a result. In the Aug. 21 chemical attacks, many Palestinians were reportedly killed, including two families from Jenin and Nazareth who lost a total of 31 family members.

Talking to Palestinians of all walks of life, one gets a sense of total relaxation regarding their own situation, though they are generally interested in the ultimate outcomes for the region. They watch Israelis rushing to obtain gas masks but make little protest that no one has thought of them.

This complacency might be misplaced. Although remote in distance, a possible attack on Syria could provoke retaliation that might fall dangerously close to Palestine. Palestinians still remember vividly the preparations for the Iraqi scud missile attacks. At first, Palestinians were caught up in the Israeli frenzy to create an environment safe from chemical weapons. But as they saw the scuds fly over the West Bank toward Israeli coastal towns, they went to their rooftops to see the missiles above their heads.