“Nationhood is not an abstract phenomenon. It is a work continuously in the making; a work that requires effort and dedication, vision and leadership; most importantly, it requires the collective free will of the people.
“Today’ world is different from the 19th century … where force could be used, at will, to unify a vast land or impose a cultural or linguistic identity upon a diverse group of peoples.”
“To forge a free nation today you need the assent of all. No identity can be unduly imposed anymore.
- Mohamed El Mokhtar Sidi Haiba, Palestinian political analyst. See his article on the global implications of ‘The Breakup of Sudan’ in the Palestinian Chronicle.