The west bank and the gaza strip: The intifada

The growing frustrations and implicit recognition of the Intifada’s inability to attain its goals were major causes for the population’s enthusiastic support of Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait. Moreover, while affirming the “right of return and national self-determination of the Palestinian people, " the PCP explicitly defined the area of the desired Palestinian state as “the West Bank, including Arab Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, " in contrast to the other factions. While publicly critical of the Baker plan, a small group of moderate Palestinian personalities expressed concern that frustration because of the impasse in the peace process brought about by the political crisis in Israel and the failure to realize the Intifada goals would severely radicalize the population. Admiration for Iraq had been increasing in the territories since the beginning of the year, particularly in view of the Intifada’s loss of momentum and the impasse in the peace process.