The Impact of Oslo Agreement on Palestinian National Identity : Political and Academic Perspectives in West Bank and Gaza Strip. رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the Impact of the Oslo Accords on the Palestinian National ldentity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The problem of the study was presented by raising by answering the main question: What is the impact of the Oslo Accords that were signed by the

Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel in 1993 on the Palestinian national identity?

The researcher discussed the main hypothesis of the study concluding that the Oslo Accords have negatively affected the Palestinian national identity and several, sometimes

conflicting, factional, partisan, and regional identities have emerged.

The researcher also raised a main question and a set of sub-questions lo prove the hypothesis of the study. The main question revolved around the impact of the Oslo Accords on

the Palestinian national identity.

The researcher adopted the descriptive survey research and used personal interviews as a data collection tool. The selected sample for this study consisted of 12 politicians and academics

in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

This study was composed of five chapters that discussed successively the topics related to the title of the thesis. The researcher, in the first chapter, reviewed the previous studies, and the importance of the study, its objectives, methodology, hypothesis, problems and questions were set and identified. In the second chapter, the theoretical framework of the study was reviewed, and the terms associated with the subject of the study were defined. The researcher, in the third chapter, tracked the stages of formation and development of the Palestinian national identity since the collapse of the Ottoman Empire through the Oslo Accords until the date of this study, 2021. The fourth chapter discussed the interviews the researcher conducted with the academics and politicians study sample, answered the study questions, and tested the validity of the hypothesis. The researcher, in the fiftlh and final chapter, presented the results and

recommendations of the study, most notably :

The Oslo Accord negatively affected the Palestinian national identity, and divided the Palestinian people ideologically into two camps, one led by the Fatah movement and the other by

Hamas.

The Palestinian national identity is the umbrella of the main principles that govern all Palestinian frameworks. After Oslo Accords, a disintegration occurred as a result of the division

of areas depending on the level of control of the Palestinian National Authority over these areas.

After the Oslo Accords, all traditional structures were reinforced, and narrow sub- identities, whether regional, factional, or clan-based, were ingrained. Consequently, the national

identity was weakened.

The most prominent recommendations made by the researcher include but are not limited to the rehabilitation of the Palestine Liberation Organization through its reform and inclusion of all Palestinian factions and movements, as well as the unification of the Palestinian liberation

discourse and strategy.

The researcher also believes that it is a necessity to unify the political action, end the division and identify a unified strategy. In addition to reshaping the all-Palestinian national discourse towards occupation, liberation and means of resistance by a consensus agreement

between all Palestinians.