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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
7

Palestine Could Offer Bright Spot for Arab World

PM Fayyad's economy- first approach a good model: Friedman

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(Newser) – Things are bad in the Arab world, but Thomas Friedman sees green shoots in an unlikely place: Palestine. “The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to the wider Middle East what off-Broadway is to Broadway,” he writes in the New York Times. “It is where all good and bad ideas get tested out first.” And right now, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad is testing out a very good idea.

Fayyad’s a former finance minister, and he believes in “legitimacy by achievement,” the idea that if Palestine develops quality institutions, independence will follow. Friedman dubs this “Fayyadism,” a direct opponent to “Arafatism,” which “focused on Palestinian rights first, state institutions later, if ever, and produced neither.” Thanks to Fayyadism, “things are getting truly better in the West Bank.”

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad gives a speech in the West Bank village of Abu Dis, near Jerusalem, June 22, 2009.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad gives a speech in the West Bank village of Abu Dis, near Jerusalem, June 22, 2009.   (AP Photo)
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, right, talks with former US President Jimmy Carter in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 13, 2009.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, right, talks with former US President Jimmy Carter in the West Bank city of Ramallah, June 13, 2009.   (AP Photo)
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Fayyadism is based on the simple but all-too-rare notion that an Arab leader’s legitimacy should be based not on slogans or personality cults, but on delivering transparent, accountable administration and services. - Thomas Friedman

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7 comments
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polstroad
Aug 5, 09 9:36 AM CDT
Sure....that is why Abbas appointed (annointed) his successor to be a well-known militant. Reply
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+1
Are_you--Nobody--Too
Aug 5, 09 9:42 AM CDT
The idea of "legitimacy by achievement” should be the idea driving the entire world now, not just the Arab world. None of us can afford anything less anymore. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
pete_ess
Aug 5, 09 2:58 PM CDT
Sorry, R.U.N2, I have a problem. Enron and Goldman Sachs were the ultimate achievers. GoldmanS still are. Did they, have they, achieved legitimacy? I'm afraid what Friedman is saying here is: Palestine, stop your struggle for your land and your soul. Just go into business and all will turn out OK. Go into business with who? The liars and thieves who put them into the misery they have suffered since the 1948 theft of their land? I say to Palestine: Stick to principles. Take all advice from whence it comes - and with great caution. And, very sadly, I would investigate Fayyad's affairs to see if he is being paid to be "amenable", and to find out who is backing him.
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-2
IN RESPONSE:
Stuart
Aug 5, 09 9:00 PM CDT
Right, nor of the 'all or nothing' idiocy that has continued to achieve nothing. How wonderful would it be if the Palestinians finally stopped listening to such absurd voices. Maybe then they will actually miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
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+1
kokuaguy
Aug 5, 09 12:17 PM CDT
Well put. ; ^) Reply
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