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Jewish World Review
Jan. 20, 2009
/ 24 Teves 5769
Living next door to a serial killer
By
Barry Rubin
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Israel has won a huge military victory in a defensive war against the
radical Islamist Hamas group which rules the Gaza Strip.
So what does Israel want?
Its first choice would be a moderate movement
running the Gaza Strip which would negotiate a deal for a Palestinian state living
in peace alongside Israel, resettling refugees there, and being a prosperous, stable
state. All Israel desires is that such a country wouldn't attack it with rockets,
war, terrorism, or inciting such terrible hatred as to ensure future wars.
Hamas, however, is too extreme to make peace; its rival, the Palestinian
Authority (PA) which rules the West Bank, is too weak and indecisive to do so.
Having Hamas as a neighbor is like living next door to a serial killer, who abuses
his children and threatens to kill them if you go in after him. You can defend
yourself but if the police won't arrest him the only choices left are to build a
wall around him, stop him from getting weapons, and sending in food.
This is Israel's dilemma. The world demands peace but isn't prepared to do too much
to help. The West's basic stand is to keep Hamas ruling Gaza, comparable to ensuring
continued Taliban rule in Afghanistan after the September 11 attacks.
Thanks to such
international "support" Gaza's people will be able to "enjoy" a dictatorial regime
dedicated to spending the next century fighting-and losing--wars.
Remember, that the Hamas regime was not elected as such. Yes, it won an election but
then seized total power by a bloody coup against the PA. Now, it imposes a radical
Islamist regime on its unfortunate subjects. Hamas has no policy for creating jobs
or raising living standards. Its educational system doesn't teach useful skills or
civic virtues but indoctrinates children with the ambition to become suicide
bombers.
So the world should consider. Is this the kind of regime you want to save and
succor? Do you want to keep Hamas in power when even most Arab states would like to
see it fall? Why talk about a peace process while following a policy ensuring no
peace process can succeed.
Understand that Hamas believes the deity insists on its victory. It doesn't matter
how long it takes or how many die. Its educational policy isn't aimed at training
productive citizens but rather future suicide bombers,
Well, it looks like the West is going to make that mistake, the PA itself isn't
going to help provide an alternative government, and Israel can't solve this problem
by itself.
So the next best thing is a ceasefire that works for a while. What is the basis for
such a plan, which recognizes the fact that Israel won the war and that Hamas wants
to restart it again?
First, Hamas must perceive itself beaten no matter what it says publicly. This
doesn't mean it will give up but does mean it will be slower to launch attacks in
future.
Second, Palestinians must perceive that Hamas was beaten so that they follow a more
productive path of moderation and diplomacy.
Third, the Arabic-speaking world-or as much of it as possible-must perceive Hamas is
beaten so that Arab states are encouraged in their battle against radical Islamism,
Iran, and Syria, while the flow of recruits to extremist movements decline.
Fourth, Hamas must perceive itself as isolated. If it knows that cross-border terror
attacks, firing rockets at Israeli civilians, and cynically using its own people as
human shields brings international sympathy and political profits these tactics will
be used again by them, and be imitated by others elsewhere.
All of these are realizable goals. The West can help by giving Hamas no recognition,
no support, and no help. A terrorist, genocidal movement which oppresses its own
people and uses them as human shields should not be rewarded. That should be
obvious.
What about the actual terms? Among the key provisions are these:
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A seriously effective regime of inspection and blocking smuggling must be put into
place on the Egypt-Gaza border. This means Egyptian forces helped by a force which
will really act to block tunnels and stop arms from coming in, not just sit and
watch the contraband go by. If more weapons get in, that will bring another war.
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Israel has the right to maintain sanctions, which means that while humanitarian
and necessary goods for Gaza's society will be allowed to cross the border it can
keep out items that have military applications.
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Aid money to rebuild in Gaza and sustain Palestinian society must be kept out of
Hamas's hands. Not only would Hamas use such funds for military purposes, it would
also steal them from being used for real relief. For example, Hamas cries there is
not enough fuel but that is because it diverts gasoline from civilian purposes for
its own use.
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Gilad Shalit, a hostage seized by Hamas in a cross-border raid into Israel, should
be released unconditionally. It is bad enough to reward terrorists for their crimes;
it is ridiculous to do so after they have been thoroughly defeated after launching
an aggressive war.
Finally, we should remember the aims of the two sides. Israel's goal is very modest:
security for its citizens, no cross-border attacks. Hamas's goal is the destruction
of Israel, wiping out its citizens, revolution throughout the Middle East, treating
women as chattel, and the creation of what it considers to be Allah's government on
earth.
Knowing that, you can decide which side to support.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in Washington and in the media consider "must reading." Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Comment by clicking here.
JWR contributor Barry Rubin is director of the Global Research in International Affairs (GLORIA) Center, Interdisciplinary Center, and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs. His latest book is "The Truth About Syria".
© 2007, Barry Rubin
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