The most recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians got me thinking. The live transmissions, the angry messages sent from one side to the other on Twitter, Facebook and other media, the myriad of articles written for and against the conflict all made me reach the conclusion that hatred is obscene and that conflicts are primarily unfair to civilians. However, one should not reward its aggressors by burying one's head in the sand.
In realpolitik terms, the situation is clear; Hamas ended the truce. It said it had no interest in either prolonging the ceasefire that expired on December 19, 2008 or entering into a different kind of agreement that would ensure a relative calm on both sides. Not only that, but Hamas marked the end of the truce by firing home made [Kassam] rockets into Israel on a daily basis. What should have Israel done? Ignored it? It could not, since it was an attack by a terrorist group on a sovereign country and its citizens. Israel responded and many cried that the response was grossly disproportionate. I always wonder why these people never questioned Hamas' decision to end the truce in the first place.
Whatever Hamas wanted to prove, it came at the cost of the safety of the people it was supposed to not only to lead, but also protect. Some, maybe many, find excuses for Hamas' actions; that its leadership is in Syria, thus at the whims of Syrian President Assad's regime; that it receives support from Iran and Hizballah, hence dependant on parties that certainly do not primarily have the well-being of the average Palestinian in mind. Hamas is in fact pressured and does submit to foreign agendas. But it can say 'no'.
Perhaps a refusal to end the ceasefire or extend it would have lead to the assassinations or sudden disappearances of Hamas' key leaders in Damascus. Or maybe Iran and Hizballah would have terminated any kind of support to Hamas. And probably without the clout offered by these so-called friends, Hamas would have had to reach some sort of agreement with Fatah led by Mahmoud Abbas - a move it was unwilling to make under the current circumstances.
If Hamas would have taken this course, the citizens of Gaza would not have been put in danger. Hamas showed no sense of respect for the people that elected them. Everything is debatable, but when one betrays its own people, what else can one claim to stand for?
Since the very first day of the conflict, I expected to see the leaders of Hamas in the streets, showing support their fellow citizens. Astonishingly, they all went into hiding! Apparently they do believe in, and worship, martyrdom as long as its not theirs.
When one brushes aside the nonsense propaganda from all sides, I see two peoples that fight to defend themselves. Whether it is land, dignity, rights or freedom that each strives to protect, it matters less. Neither is going to go away. If and when they understand the not-so-complicated but highly-sensitive concept of partnership, then it stops being a bloody catch 22.
comments