RAMALLAH, November 19 (JMCC) - Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which has seen six days of Israeli airstrikes, sound off to Al-Monitor's Dalia Hatuqa about plans by the Palestine Liberation Organization to seek an upgrade in status at the United Nations at the end of this month.

“Going to the UN shows that Fatah is fearful of losing to Hamas, which is gaining ground not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank. This step will definitely not help end the feud between these two rivals,” said Jadallah.

Basem Zubeidi, professor of political science at Birzeit University, called Abbas’ UN move an “act of political desperation” and stressed that the latest upheaval in Gaza had annihilated whatever interest Palestinians had in the upcoming UN bid.

“No one cares about it,” Zubeidi said. “Abbas thought his UN move would take world center stage. The Gaza attacks have ensured that the bid will be a side show, especially with other pressing issues such as the global recession and the Syrian file.”

“There’s a chasm between Hamas and Fatah and divisions within Fatah itself,” Zubeidi added. “He didn’t even seek his people’s prior approval. With all this internal discord, a Palestinian strategy should have been hashed out to prepare for the aftermath.”

Israel has already rolled out a series of sticks and carrots in response to the renewed UN bid, including nullifying the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 or recognizing the PA as a state in temporary borders if Abbas drops the bid.

But Jadallah said it’s the Palestinians that will pay for the adverse repercussions of this move. “People are not concerned with the UN. They are concerned with the consequences, which are embedded in their fears of losing their daily bread.”