Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism & Policy, dives into the complexities of Palestinian nationalism. He reflects on the decline of traditional leadership and the surprising opportunities that arise from recent conflicts. Mansour argues for a reimagining of identity, prioritizing individual rights over collective narratives. He critiques how historical narratives and groups like Hamas shape Palestinian experiences, advocating for new leadership that prioritizes the well-being of everyday Palestinians.
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insights INSIGHT
Problematic Foundation of Palestinian Nationalism
Palestinian nationalism's foundation is problematic, hindering peace and acceptance of Israel.
This foundation is rooted in a romanticized, grievance-based narrative, influencing the Palestinian national identity.
insights INSIGHT
A Different Palestinian Identity
Despite the problematic foundation, many Palestinians desire a normal life.
A new Palestinian identity, divorced from the current narrative, could be imagined.
insights INSIGHT
Initial Reaction to October 7th
The aftermath of October 7th initially shook some Arab elites and societies.
This presented a possible momentum for change and addressing the problematic aspects of the Palestinian cause.
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Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" is a seminal work of postcolonial theory that explores the psychological and social effects of colonialism on colonized peoples. Fanon argues that colonialism creates a system of oppression that dehumanizes and alienates the colonized, leading to violence and resistance. He analyzes the role of violence in the struggle for liberation, emphasizing its necessity in breaking the cycle of oppression. The book also examines the process of decolonization, highlighting the need for a complete transformation of society and the creation of new forms of social and political organization. Fanon's work remains highly influential in discussions of colonialism, decolonization, and the ongoing struggle for racial and social justice.
Last February, the Egyptian-American intellectual Hussein Aboubakr Mansour wrote an article in which he considered the possibility of a new idea of Palestinian nationalism. The IDF was destroying Hamas. The remnant of the Palestinian Authority’s legitimacy and trust among the frustrated Palestinians—already weak—was decaying at an accelerated rate. The grotesque complicity of UNRWA in Hamas’s crimes might yet deal enough of a blow to the international Palestine-human-rights complex that Mansour could allow himself to hope that the old idea of Palestine might be susceptible to being replaced by something different, something more constructive. A consequence of Hamas activating a series of events that led to war and defeat and destruction might also lead to an opportunity to re-found Palestinian nationalism on healthier foundations.
One year later, after watching Palestinians in Gaza cheering the remains of the Bibas children, murdered in Gaza and then kept as monstrous ransom, Mansour recently revised the possibility of a renewed Palestinian nationalism, and in light of all that has transpired, came to a different conclusion altogether.
Today, Hussein Aboubakr Mansour, a research fellow at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism & Policy and contributor to Mosaic, joins Jonathan Silver to discuss his essay, “Why There Should Not Be a Palestine,” published on his Substack, the Abrahamic Critique and Digest.
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