Crisis and Oportunity in the Gazan Tragedy

The Nub of the Gaza/Israeli Conflict



After a week of listening to the usual pundits discussing everything but the central issue in this conflict, I feel compelled to stress the issue which will determine the future of Gaza and its relations with Israel. This is the brutal fact that Hamas has dedicated itself, in writing and policies, to the destruction of Israel and the removal of all Jews from their Palestine, which includes all of Israel.



So long as Hamas maintains the policy of no negotiations (direct), and no compromise or recognition of Israel and its right to exist, there can never be peace with a Hamas-led Gaza.



How come there are no missiles, and virtually no suicide bombers or other conflict on the West Bank/Israel border? Simply because that area is controlled by the PLA, which has embraced the notion of a two state solution, living in peace, and is negotiating the details. This is the only possible approach to the conflict, short of one side annihilating and occupying the other.



Unfortunately, except for a few Fox commentators, those reporting and commenting on the current warfare ignore this reality, most of them happy with reporting on the casualties, the gore, and the "feelings" of those affected or concerned.



So why is Hamas so bent on the destruction of Israel, even if that policy means years of suffering, poverty and sacrifice for the Gazan people? One of the most cogent answers to this comes from Ziad Asali, of The American Task Force for Palestine, An American of Palestinian origins, he points to the fact that Hamas represents for Iran the one wedge it has into the Sunni Arab population, and is the only Sunni-based force that has thrown in its lot with Iran's announced plans not only to destroy Israel, but to replace the current Sunni regimes in the area with one Islamic state. (Hezbollah in Lebanon are exclusively Shiites)



This is why Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, while trying to stop the current violence, are extremely critical of Hamas for its recent actions. But for Hamas and Iran, making the Sunni Arab population disgusted with seeing Palestinian casualties, and ready to rally around Hamas, is the true objective of this struggle.



In short, the wages of this war for Hamas are the number of dead and injured Palestinian women and children they can produce from Israel's actions. And the more the better! The more CNN's uninformed commentators wring their hands over casualties, and the more the Arab press and TV stations picture dead and wounded Palestinians, the better off is their over-arching struggle to bring down not just Israel, but all the moderate Arab regimes.



At least this time, some newspapers and columnists in Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia recognize this game being waged for Iranian goals, and are resisting. Most disconcerting , however, is the ignorance of so many of our own and BBC commentators, who will not even mention Hamas' central , rejectionist policies, while excoriating Israel for taking steps to stop the bombing of their civilians in three major cities, and the entire Southern Negev region.



Is There A Possible Solution?





Is there anything that can be done at this stage, which will break the deadly, downward spiral of events in Gaza? The one step that might work would be to have the moderate Arab states (Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia) put the strongest possible pressure on Hamas to break with Iran and change their charter to permit negotiations with and the recognition of Israel. Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states could promise the funding for an economic renaissance in Gaza in return for breaking with Iran, Hamas' current banker.

I don't know if this will work; but it must be attempted, with the USA promising Hamas recognition and international status for abandoning their rejectionist policies.

In the short run, pressures from the USA and international community will soon establish a temporary cease fire. But the Israelis will very likely remain positioned in Gaza, shutting off Gaza City from their tunnels on the border, and preventing a resurgence of violence. Hamas will have the choice to attack, and lose badly; or to come to some more permanent arrangement; or to become defenseless.

This is the point at which a strong diplomatic effort might work to have Hamas shift their philosophy, strategies and allegiances to something that promises a peaceful and prosperous existence, and a reunified Palestine. And this might be the moment and the opportunity for President Obama to make his power and prestige felt at home and abroad, consistent with the solid backing of Israel he has promised.

But only the combined and forceful persuasion of the Sunni Arab regimes, aimed at bringing Hamas out of the Iranian's hands and into the moderate camp, can exert the pressure and the promise that might move Hamas leaders to a major change of heart.