Palestine; New Leader, New Party

In Light of the evolutionary events in North Africa, the Palestinian people have to be pondering a world of opportunity before their very eyes. If a new party were to emerge demanding free and fair elections, with no political parties allowed to have any armed component or intentions of offensive violence (nobody can ask a nation to not defend itself, however it is a minimum component that it agree not to attack its neighbors), then a consensus to form a parliamentary democracy can emerge, even if political unity is not a near term option. Palestine needs a Mandela for sure, but perhaps a well-respected conciliator such as Erekat may emerge as the first leader of an independent Palestine.

A non-violent protest movement in Palestine will lead to higher level and more urgent Israel-Palestine peace talks, and the nation could emerge within a very few short years, as early as 2012-2013.