From Exhausting the Past to Building the Future: Towards a National Awakening

The Palestinian cause is currently going through a deep crisis that has transcended mere manifestations of political division or organizational disputes; it has reached the essence of the national project itself and cast shadows over its meaning, function, and future. Historical experiences, especially over the past two decades, have proven that the traditional frameworks that have dominated the Palestinian scene in light of the division have failed significantly, failing to both protect the national project and meet the aspirations of the Palestinian people for freedom and dignity. The persistence of these frameworks has contributed to plunging the Palestinian cause into a strategic crisis that is almost existential, threatening the land, rights, and the very meaning of existence. **The Crisis of the National Project and the Failure of Existing Frameworks** The political settlement project adopted by the Palestine Liberation Organization, despite its historical role in bringing the cause into the international arena, has become too narrow, if not completely closed off for quite some time. Moreover, the institutions of the authority have transformed into an end in themselves, gradually drifting away from the central goal of achieving comprehensive freedom for the Palestinian people. In contrast, the nature of the military experience adopted by resistance movements, especially the Islamic ones, despite the legitimate principle of resistance in defending the Palestinian people, has failed to transform resistance into a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable national strategy. Both experiences have led to the marginalization of Palestinian society from the decision-making circle, while their consequences have imposed on citizens the costs of failure without providing adequate protection against the onslaught of the Zionist project, which systematically aims to resolve the conflict at the expense of Palestinian national existence, including the risks of displacement and the completion of the Nakba. The results of these experiences affirm that traditional frameworks have been completely exhausted, and continuing to rely on them with the same methods is no longer merely a political error, but due to their insistence on rejecting any review, it has become a direct threat to the national project and the ability of the Palestinian people to endure and survive. The danger is no longer theoretical or postponed, but has become touching the land, rights, and daily life, placing the priority of human and national survival at the forefront of the challenges. **How the Past Was Consumed and the Crisis of Trust Deepened** This historical failure can be attributed to a set of intertwined factors, foremost among them the reliance on outdated political and organizational models that are no longer capable of responding to the transformations of the national reality, and the continued consumption of the past instead of renewing it through political and organizational innovation. Internal divisions, the claim of monopolizing correctness, have weakened national initiative and eroded popular legitimacy, distancing the youth and the vibrant forces in society from active participation. Alongside this was the actual absence of civil society and youth participation in national decision-making, which weakened the community's ability to mobilize and contribute to shaping national strategies. The separation between national struggle and the daily life of citizens further exacerbated the situation, rendering steadfastness an abstract concept, divorced from improving actual living conditions, and limited in its influence on social and economic reality. The absence of democratic collective leadership turned institutions into tools for maintaining influence instead of serving the people, deepening the loss of popular trust in the ability of these institutions to protect national interests. These factors have converged to weaken the national project and drain its historical and political capital, leaving Palestinian society exposed to increasing challenges on the ground and in various societal structures, giving rise to a crisis-ridden reality that requires comprehensive intellectual and political rebuilding, rather than mere cosmetic patches or reproducing the crisis. In the context of this crisis, Palestine today faces a critically dangerous phase, characterized by accumulated existential national risks, the most prominent of which is the continued draining of national capacities due to dependence on frameworks incapable of renewal, declining popular legitimacy resulting from the monopoly of the past and division, and the weakness of social and political steadfastness in the absence of a clear national compass for the new generations, who feel marginalized and excluded from participating in decision-making. The gap between national struggle and the daily reality of citizens is widening, weakening the community's ability to endure and multiplying economic and social burdens. **Towards an Inclusive and Renewed National Project** In light of these dangers, launching a new political movement is no longer an option among choices, but an existential necessity. A movement that is based on a comprehensive vision, respecting the historical legacy of all Palestinian factions and their role in the liberation journey without being enslaved by it, and revitalizing national energies by bringing together the experiences of previous generations with the vitality of youth and new civic initiatives. A movement that is organically linked to the social fabric and the daily lives of people, so that national steadfastness becomes a tangible act reflected in improving living conditions, rather than an abstract slogan. A movement led by a democratic and responsible collective leadership, practicing transparency and accountability, deriving its legitimacy from the people, and adhering to international law and international legitimacy in defending national rights and protecting civil rights. This new national project is expected to rely on flexible and diverse forms of popular organization, capable of linking national tasks with social and democratic tasks, through local and community bodies that represent neighborhoods and cities and mobilize citizens, educational, health, and cultural institutions that integrate national work with daily services, and youth and student frameworks that ensure the participation of new generations in decision-making, and participatory civic initiatives that enhance the connection between national rights and community development, along with open democratic communication mechanisms such as dialogues, forums, and public meetings that allow citizens to participate in shaping national and social policies. The organic linkage between national, social, and democratic efforts, which both the national authority and Hamas have previously failed to articulate as a governing philosophy to enhance steadfastness, will redefine national struggle as a comprehensive process that is not limited to confronting occupation but also includes building a sustainable capacity for steadfastness and achieving a dignified life for the Palestinian citizen. From here, this project is not merely a political alternative, but an open existential national invitation for all Palestinians to actively participate in public discussion and consciously engage in shaping the future and national destiny. It is the legitimate line of defense for our present and future generations, emphasizing that Palestine today needs collective will, active participation from all segments of society, and shared responsibility towards the land, the people, and national rights. Participating in shaping such a new national project is the real national act capable of protecting rights, enhancing steadfastness, and building an inclusive, democratic, and effective Palestinian future, certainly not from under the American cloak or Trump's "peace" council, but to confront its malicious objectives. The essential question remains: who are the tools and carriers capable of carrying this project without recycling outdated instruments?