Part 8/11:
A key part of the conversation revolves around the origins of Palestinian nationalism. Ful points out the historical inaccuracies surrounding the Palestinian identity, citing the early leadership of Yasser Arafat. He notes that Arafat, widely regarded as the father of Palestinian nationalism, was born in Cairo and established the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964—two years before Israel's 1967 occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.
This timeline suggests that Palestinian aspirations for statehood, as commonly portrayed, lack historical consistency. Ful emphasizes that the PLO’s charter explicitly seeks the destruction of Israel, reflecting a broader ideological goal rather than a genuine quest for peace or independence.