GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Palestinian youths, like all Palestinians, are living through harsh political, economic and social conditions. Young Palestinians are kept away from leadership positions in political parties and are suppressed when they try to deviate from the established political line. This is the case in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip. These youths lack a true role model or inspirational figure, unlike what Shlomi Eldar wrote in Al-Monitor about Mustafa Barghouti.

Although Barghouti is an independent figure who has rallied against the two main parties, the fact remains that Palestinian youth are largely disenchanted with the political scene at present. Barghouti himself did not seem convinced of comparisons drawn between him and youth activist Wael Ghonim, when asked about this by Eldar. Moreover, Eldar neither provided significant justification for why the youths made this comparison nor did he reveal where he got his information. This comparison contradicts what was mentioned by youths belonging to the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI), who conceded that the youth are lacking a figurehead.  

The March 15 movement has become the most prominent political force for Palestinian youths. The movement started in 2011 in the form of massive rallies throughout the Palestinian territories to express people’s rejection of the split between Hamas and Fatah, both of which tried and succeeded in controlling that movement. The movement did not include the leaders of any Palestinian political parties as members, including those from Barghouti's party.

What Palestinian youths lack is a role model around whom they can rally to face life’s pressures and force the Palestinian leadership into allowing them to get involved in the political and economic spheres. Barghouti, despite his respectable independent stance, has failed so far to galvanize disenchanted Palestinian youth. The youths criticize this system and no longer want to be under its banner.