My Friend... The Opposition and the Loyalty

In our last meeting this year before my friend traveled, he asked me why I notice tension among Palestinians in their talks, discussions, and writings on social media, and their description of each other as "opposition" and "loyalty" as if it were a curse or a bad insult to brand those who differ; these terms in other countries are considered beneficial and carry value in the political, cultural, and intellectual context. I replied that Palestinians enjoy contrasts in their political struggle and synonyms in their discussions and descriptions of opponents; like terms of takfir (excommunication) and treason or dissidents and rebels or the group of so-and-so or Abu so-and-so when there is disagreement within factions and parties, and so on. I added that this difficulty in labeling may stem from the harshness of living and the nature of life and their continuous exposure to the violence of occupation, and it may also be due to the absence of the concept of the state in the Palestinians' lives built on the duality of opposition and loyalty to governance; as an institution of the state to manage citizen affairs rather than to control citizens’ lives. And I thought to myself to add more philosophy to my answer, and this was for the sociological analysis of Ibn Khaldun, the Arab sociologist who indicated that governance is based on tribal solidarity, meaning dominance or what we today call control and hegemony in its cultural and political sense.

He gestured to me with his hand to disregard the philosophy and not to lose the main idea of the topic; for opposition is a fundamental matter in politics, indeed it is central to sound reasoning. I recalled my insight and said to him, "What do you mean?" to gain the upper hand in this meeting. He quickly responded that these descriptions deny the individual human right to think and express opinions freely and frame him in the context of stereotyping as if he were a follower without mind or ability to formulate positions on political, social, and cultural issues dependent on this group or that. On the other hand, political opposition is part of the state and not outside it; it is a major component of governance to compete for the public's support from the government and to reassess the means and tools of governance, and to review its policies in line with its political goals and the sustainability of the majority's rule; that is to achieve the two desired goals of the ruling authorities, which are gaining the trust and satisfaction of citizens.

He added that the loyalists are often members of the cultural and political elite who have a broad understanding of the concept of governance based on enhancing trust and satisfaction, that is they offer opinion and advice and can be described as wise "not the 'sahij' you describe them as. I interrupted him saying that any term used is a product of the prevailing societal culture and often addresses some of its issues in a popular way or more precisely in a demagogic way. Personally, I agree with you that opposition and loyalty in political life do not have red lines; their situations may turn upside down if the rule changes and the opposition wins elections, thus the opposition becomes loyalists and the loyalists become opposition. At the same time, some who are branded as opposition may agree with a policy, action, or decision issued by the ruling authorities and praise it or commend its actions, and in this lies the behavior of reason or the ability to understand the backstage of governance and its troubles.

My friend said, "It seems you are playing with words and trying to flatter the rule and its masters.'' I responded angrily, "Have people really become subjects of such groups, and do you not accept the exercise of reason in the interest of citizens first in every action and logic? Let us part this year hoping you will be more rational and less harsh in judging things concerning governance, culture, and the behavior of citizens—both those opposed and the loyalists; may God help them all in their tribulation."