What Time Is It in Palestine?

It’s a small thing, to be sure, but not without significance. As of now, Gaza and the West Bank are in different time zones.

The difference in time is symbolic of the gap between the two places politically and socially, and of the inability of anyone to figure out what to do about it. “Unity” discussions between Hamas and Fatah are going nowhere. The leadership on both sides appears to me to be quite happy with things as they are, and happy to hide behind their divisions as the excuse for refusing to hold elections.

So while the PA/PLO rushes to the United Nations for the symbolic declaration of statehood, a more telling symbolic event has already occurred.

Yes, I know that national unity is possible despite time differences: look at the United States. But the distance between Washington and Honolulu is five thousand miles. From Gaza to Ramallah is about fifty.