Clinton Brings Hope and Dignity, Many Gazans Say

Far from the convention halls, the show-of-hands votes and the airport ribbon-cuttings, the people of the impoverished Gaza Strip looked to President Clinton on Monday for dignity and hope.

And many said they found what they sought, discovering in the eloquent words of the U.S. president and in his presence here in Gaza a deeply compassionate recognition of their dreams for statehood and of their enormous needs.

“He has made us believe in the future again,” said Amal Dabbagh, a 43-year-old Gaza City homemaker and mother of five. “He has given us hope.”

At times Monday, this narrow stretch of desert seemed almost unrecognizable, awash in a sea of red, white and blue and dotted by signs, in English and Arabic, that were filled with the language of pride and aspiration. “Palestine Is the Land of Peace,” one said. “We Have a Dream, Same as Yours,” read another, in an apparent nod to the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

On the dusty streets of Gaza, there were surreal scenes: Palestinian children rode bicycles decorated with U.S. flags, and normally uncommunicative Palestinian police shouted words of welcome to anyone who appeared vaguely Western. American flags four stories tall and giant posters of Clinton with Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat hung above streets that have often been the scene of violent demonstrations, at which a U.S. flag was more likely to be set ablaze in protest over U.S. policy.

There was eager anticipation of a budding relationship with the United States that would have been unimaginable less than a decade ago, when U.S. diplomats were forbidden to speak to the Palestine Liberation Organization.

Clinton’s role in pushing the negotiations forward at the October marathon that resulted in the Wye Plantation agreement has, for many Palestinians, earned him gratitude and the permanent mantle of a peacemaker.

“Today he [Clinton] will not support a Palestinian state, but maybe tomorrow,” said Khalil Biram, a 54-year-old shopkeeper selling dry goods not far from where the American president spoke to the assembled members of the Palestine National Council. “The U.S. used to help Israel, but now we hope they’ll help us. The Americans are sharing our troubles.”

“Today it’s a new era, a new situation” with the United States, said a Palestinian police commander, Sayed Shaban, 41, whose men helped guard Clinton. “I’m not saying that everything is on the right path. I’m saying that the majority of the people are very happy with the visit.”

Perhaps expectations were raised too high, creating the risk of disappointment and anger at the United States if, or when, the peace process with Israel bogs down again.

But in the territory’s squalid refugee camps and along this city’s narrow, crowded streets, not all were persuaded that anything, fundamentally, had changed during the president’s daylong visit. Some said they wondered if peace will bring them jobs, repair their broken sidewalks and feed their children.

In the Jabaliya refugee camp, where residents said more than half the population is out of work, many said they supported the peace process but doubted that even the U.S. president could keep it on track for long. “We hope it will be good, but the Israelis don’t want it to go forward,” said Samir Oweis, 35.

Even so, he and others made it clear that they were counting on the United States to press forward with the process. “We know the solution is in the hands of the United States,” said Shehadeh Amoudi, 45, who owns a household goods shop in the camp. “It gives the people better hope. It makes them feel they can be more supportive of peace.”

The crowd gathered just outside an unfinished building, sitting on plastic chairs and drinking cups of sweet tea. Several people expressed a measure of anger that, despite the peace process, hundreds of Palestinians remain imprisoned by Israel. And they said Clinton should do more to pressure Israel to free the prisoners, whom they view as heroes of a national struggle. Israel has said it will not free Palestinians who participated in violent acts against Israelis or who are members of militant Islamic groups.

Abdul Fattah Sharafi, a 20-year-old in a jaunty blue hat, proudly declared that he had burned American flags during the long uprising known as the intifada. He remained determined to see Israel fall into the sea, he said. Several youngsters in the crowd agreed.

But on this day of newly heightened aspirations for peace with Israel, it quickly was apparent that they were in the minority. “No one wants to destroy Israel,” said Amoudi. “I worked in Israel for 20 years.”

“If they will live in peace with us, we will live in peace with them,” another said. “We all want peace.”