I seldom agree with what Alan Dershowitz describes as former U.S. President Jimmy Carter's "Distorted World". This time, the Nobel Peace Laureate hit the nail on the head with respect to the U.S.-Israel response to the escalating conflict amongst rivalling terrorist organizations, Hamas and Fatah.
For much too long Israel worked diligently to undermine the Palestine Authority. I, much like many wished to see the removal of Yasser Arafat. Israel undermined whom today we refer to a "moderates" to the point of establishing a vacuum in which Hamas successfully operated. Let me explain.
During the first Intifada, Hamas emerged as terrorist organization. The resulting bloodshed that ensued resulted in the loss of trust and confidence in Hamas' ability to deliver the Palestinian national narrative. But Hamas has always been pragmatic at its core, albeit racist and dogmatic. In a chameleon-like fashion they worked diligently to fill the social void of the deteriorating Palestinian condition and gained the trust of the people.
During the second Intifada Hamas went back to it's terrorist roots at a time when the prospect of peace had hit a glass ceiling. Israel, like many including myself, blamed Arafat for much of the bloodshed. After all, he did pay lip-service to the global community while supporting attacks on Israel from his own territory. This is not the point.
We were all convinced that Arafat needed to be removed. Perhaps he did but the issue was much greater than the personality of one man. Israel succeeded in it's quest to undermine the PA and Fatah. The result: Hamas.
I wrote a piece a week back about hindsight's failure with respect to the selection of Ehud Barak in the Labor Party primary. The same holds true for Israel and America's strategy in the current conflict.
The proposition is simple: Deepening the divide between Hamas and Fatah will lead to the inability of either group to provide services to the Palestinian people, creating once again a vacuum for the growth of even more radical factions. Al Qaeda? Perhaps. It can only get worse.
Like it or not, world opinion matters when it comes to Israel as she fights for her very existence. In the eyes of Israel's dissenters, she will bear the burden of blame for the Palestinian casualties at the hands of it's own brothers and sisters.
Intervention will only exacerbate the conflict and provide little, if any gain. Defending ones nation and intervening in an internal conflict of the other need not be spoken of in the same breath. It's time for pragmatism.
For much too long Israel worked diligently to undermine the Palestine Authority. I, much like many wished to see the removal of Yasser Arafat. Israel undermined whom today we refer to a "moderates" to the point of establishing a vacuum in which Hamas successfully operated. Let me explain.
During the first Intifada, Hamas emerged as terrorist organization. The resulting bloodshed that ensued resulted in the loss of trust and confidence in Hamas' ability to deliver the Palestinian national narrative. But Hamas has always been pragmatic at its core, albeit racist and dogmatic. In a chameleon-like fashion they worked diligently to fill the social void of the deteriorating Palestinian condition and gained the trust of the people.
During the second Intifada Hamas went back to it's terrorist roots at a time when the prospect of peace had hit a glass ceiling. Israel, like many including myself, blamed Arafat for much of the bloodshed. After all, he did pay lip-service to the global community while supporting attacks on Israel from his own territory. This is not the point.
We were all convinced that Arafat needed to be removed. Perhaps he did but the issue was much greater than the personality of one man. Israel succeeded in it's quest to undermine the PA and Fatah. The result: Hamas.
I wrote a piece a week back about hindsight's failure with respect to the selection of Ehud Barak in the Labor Party primary. The same holds true for Israel and America's strategy in the current conflict.
The proposition is simple: Deepening the divide between Hamas and Fatah will lead to the inability of either group to provide services to the Palestinian people, creating once again a vacuum for the growth of even more radical factions. Al Qaeda? Perhaps. It can only get worse.
Like it or not, world opinion matters when it comes to Israel as she fights for her very existence. In the eyes of Israel's dissenters, she will bear the burden of blame for the Palestinian casualties at the hands of it's own brothers and sisters.
Intervention will only exacerbate the conflict and provide little, if any gain. Defending ones nation and intervening in an internal conflict of the other need not be spoken of in the same breath. It's time for pragmatism.
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