Cheering the Terrorists On
Unabashed, unrepentant terrorist Hamas, still bent on destroying Israel, vs. corrupt, ineffectual ostensibly repentant terrorism-enabling Fatah, which allowed this state of affairs to develop. The Palestinians, having divided, were in the process of conquering themselves. Not surprisingly, utter murderousness trumped weaseling deception, and Hamas emerged the victor. But like everything else in the Middle East, it’s never that simple. Hamas’ victory almost immediately was revealed to be a disaster, Fatah’s rout an opportunity.
That was not immediately apparent to some observers. There were fears expressed of a terrorist state emerging on Israel’s flank in Gaza, an inroad for Iran. Those who hold these fears must not have been paying attention. Israel has been surrounded by terrorist states for its entire modern existence, and the presence of Iran-backed terrorists in Gaza is nothing new. Hamas had suspended its suicide bombing campaign, but maintained a steady barrage of deadly rocket attacks, along with abductions, as much as Hamas figured it could get away with, while Iran was both providing support and egging Hamas on. Having already brought war and economic ruin on the Palestinians, any fig leaf of legitimacy the terrorist organization might have had from its election was blown away by merciless internecine slaughter.
Already isolated before its henchmen started tossing Fatah members off the roofs of Gaza, Hamas is now pleading for Arab “neutrality.” Egypt, already active against smugglers, is moving to contain Hamas. Israel has promised to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. But what Hamas did was turn Gaza into a free-fire zone for the Israeli Army. There is no reason whatsoever for Israeli restraint in crossing the border to excise the cancer, and no one who can credibly raise an outcry against Israel when it does.
Fatah, having lost, immediately won Israeli and western financial and political support. But the defeat that brought victory is a defeat that Fatah immediately had to address. Already seen as a tool of the west, Fatah has confirmed it, becoming completely and overtly beholden to western interests. To make up for that, Fatah is now promising to ship money into Gaza, and to pay civil servants regardless of their political affiliation. Fatah needs to buy broad Palestinian support, and doesn’t mind humiliating Hamas with its newfound largesse.
Fatah’s Mahmoud Abbas also called for the United States to host new peace talks with Israel. Hamas, recognizing it is in danger of throwing itself off the roof and suddenly eager to appear reasonable, now wants a dialogue with Fatah and is talking about the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston. Fatah has indicated it is interested in talks with Hamas, eager to enhance what it hopes will be a new image as the ascendant and magnanimous Palestinian power. There is talk of concessions, a “West Bank first” initiative to reward Fatah, somewhat prematurely, before it has shown any maturity as a political entity itself. It is up to those who hold the pursestrings — Israel and the west — to quietly ensure that Fatah behaves responsibly. Palestinian peace and reconciliation may well be possible, if the criminal organization that is Hamas agrees to disarm, disband and disavow the destruction of Israel. Anything less will require a measured and reasonable response: the withholding of all cash, and the destruction of Hamas in Gaza by Israel.
The terrorist masters of Hamas, with their exuberant outburst of murder last week, have taken themselves hostage. This is no time to give in to terrorist demands. As we’ve learned, that only encourages them. If they will not release themselves, there is nothing we can do for them. If Hamas is bent on destroying itself, we shouldn’t try to stop them. If Fatah wants to lead the Palestinians, it will need to show it is capable of doing so.
Jules Crittenden is an editor and columnist for the Boston Herald. Crittenden’s web page is at Forward Movement.
Yes, yes, but WWJD? (What Would Jimmah Do?)
As J. Wellington Wimpy used to say, “Let’s you and him fight.” Said much the same thing when Iran and Iraq were busy gassing, bombing, slaughtering, and human-waving each other.
I mean, as one of the Great Satan’s minions, how would I dare disapprove of the Middle East’s bona-fide cultural heritage?
I hope you are right, but Hamas is suggesting that they are going to take the West Bank the way they took Gaza: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19314477/
Might be bluster, might be real. Nothing in the Middle East is really surprising anymore.
The West should stay completely out of it. They should give no aid and legitimacy, isolate as murderous terrorists both Hamas and Fatah, and judge them rogues in the civilized world. They should support Israel in any means they see fit to defend themselves.
I know, I’m just dreaming.
Cheer? Cry instead.
Give all the Pals better weapons and training. Then seal the borders.
The lukewarmness of the thoughts expressed, both in the article and comments, goes far into gauging the cynical cruelty of average folk, even when they agree with you in principle. “Let them kill each other”? There is absolutely no reason in the world that we have to accept either party, Hamas or Fatah, as the leadership of the Palestinian people. The only just solution, one that actually risks fairness for all involved is to take all that money earmarked for terrorists groups (i.e. Fatah and Hamas) and send it instead to Jordan.
Jordan is, was and, unless the whole region becomes a blinding glare point for satellite image systems, will always be Palestine. One must use the combined goodwill of the people of the world, coupled with those who want a workable solution to do what should have been accomplished with much less hardship in 1967. The same system used to move Israeli settlers out of Gaza should be used instead to move the Arabs living in Judea, Samaria and Gaza out to Jordan. If they agree to leave for Jordan now they can have X amount of money. If they leave in 6 months the amount they get is X/2. If they wait a year it will be X/3 and so one. This money will not be going to parties. They will be given to individuals. You will be surprised how many Palestinians abandon these “refugee camps” when shown well build homes somewhere in Jordan, shown that all modern utilities are available, there is food to be bought and jobs to be applied for. They get all that and a lump sum that would see them through a nice portion of their adjustment period. They could have loans backed by the UN Palestinian Refugee program. NATO forces would check every new Jordanian citizen for weapons as they entered their new land. These troops would help the Jordanian government in keeping the peace for the first generation or so. Educators will be given benefits if they will see fit to move to this area, from such place as Europe and the US in order to teach the first generation of immigrants. This system is much kinder then the one used in forcibly moving various Europeans in the aftermath of WWII. It will also be much cheaper then the warfare the situation continuously endangers. There will be no forcible movement of people.
Those that stay behind will be given citizenship in Jordan and can mail absentee ballots to that nation’s elections. Lets see how long they choose to stay in a country that is officially recognized as Israel, in which they have no right to vote and have to deal with the thugs who now have far fewer avenues by which to finance their thuggery. The world has supported this slightly mutated form of the PLO for far too long. Those that stay behind will be strangers in a strange land and one thinks that a people who have much suffered that state over the last 4 thousands of years will know how to be kind to those who suffer it in the Land of Israel. It is cruel to leave the Palestinians in the hands of the thugs who rule them now. The Palestinians have their land and it is on the other side of the Jordan. That is just, true and workable.