It is very convenient to imagine that Hamas does Syria’s bidding to divert the West’s attention from Syrian wrongdoings. Or Iran’s. Or the Arab League’s. It doesn’t. Afghan mujahedeen had interests similar to American interests, and took the American money and weapons. Afghan insurgents critically depended on America, but followed nearly none of its orders. If not for America, the Afghans would have fought communists with old rifles and long-term terrorism. Suicidal young Arabs, locked in Gaza with no life prospects, objectively need an outlet like Hamas. Palestinian insurgents benefit from Syrian money and hideouts, Iranian money and training, the Egyptian blind eye to weapons’ shipments from the Muslim Brotherhood, and Saudi money. But there are also Palestinian splinter groups that enjoy very little institutional support. They rely on small donations, racketeering, and occasional kidnappings to purchase cheap explosives and send suicide bombers; the Saudis will pay their families later. Hamas needs money and support for training and weapons suitable against Fatah. The anti-Israeli part of Hamas’ job is inexpensive: Hamas makes rockets in common metal workshops with basic explosives routinely made from fertilizer.
Hamas is not a hit man for evil powers, but a genuine national liberation movement which enjoys wide support among the politically active strata of the Palestinians. Israeli peace-seekers ignore the grassroots Palestinian desire to claim back the ancient Arab land in its entirety.
Hamas is impossible to extinguish, but easy to suppress. There is no need for politically questionable actions against Hamas’ civilian supporters. Hamas politicians are the perfect targets for Israeli retaliation. Israel currently avoids harming the high-status enemies, though in every war the enemy’s politicians are prime targets. Instead of hitting empty areas called “Hamas training camps” and Hamas shacks, the Israeli Air Force could keep destroying the villas of Hamas officials, preferably with their families, in retaliation for suicide bombings and rocket attacks against Israel. The Palestinian population has little regard for their corrupt politicians and warlords, and would also tacitly welcome the Israeli tactics. Foreign governments cannot condemn attacks against leaders of terrorist group. The Hamas leadership isn’t concerned with Israel destroying shacks or killing rank-and-file members. Personal retaliation against the Hamas leaders and their property would quickly change Hamas’ attitude toward Israel. Many splinter groups such as the PIJ and Al Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades won’t care about the damage to Hamas’ officials. Israel can target those groups by bombing major houses of their leaders’ extended families. The Israeli-Palestinian war is now personal only to the common Jews of Sderot and common Arabs of Gaza. Make it personal for the rulers.
Obadiah,
As always I enjoy your thinking. I don’t always agree, but I find your perspective fresh and new. Part of creative thinking is to come up with many ideas. Some of them will turn out to be good, others may not be good in themselves, but open up the mind and off good ideas spin of them. What I find refreshing is that you chose reality over our wishful thinking. While much of your writing may appear heartless, I am convinced that on the longer term, your approach would lead to much less bloodshed, and thus is much more compassionate than the politically correct hypocrisy.
I like your ideas about dividing Lebanon, and the idea about Judea. Now that we give ourselves a permission for thinking outside of the box, I am curious about your thoughts about some things:
Why are we not more successful with psychological warfare: Could we not convert Hamasniks in Israeli custody into Jewish patriots?
During the Vietnam war, several American pilots shot over N. Vietnam were “brainwashed” to the degree that they believed that America is evil and did not want to go back to their country. Whatever methods the Vietnamese were using, (possibly involving torture) must be rather primitive in comparison with the psychological experts in what a modern countries like Israel or US.
How hard would it be to strike a deal with some of the some of the Palestinian leader. How about helping Jordan conquer Saudi Arabia (the Hasemites have an old competition with the Sauds and would love to control Mecca. After defeating Saudis, there will be plenty of space for the Palestinians. I also think that it should be possible to turn hatred into “love”. This is common psychology, love and hatred often interchange in relationship.
Ray
Had you or "Eugene" taken the time to politely e-mail me to ask me to consider linking to your blog, I might have. Instead, I've banned your URL and jewrusalem.org from my blog because he spammed my comments, entirely off topic, asking me to link to your site. Very piggy. Very bad netiquette. My boyfriend's spending his entire day today dealing with spam in my comments section. I don't care what your message is, if you try to shove it into my living room, it's not getting heard. I hope other MT sites will ban you as well. Could it be, not your message, but bad manners that are getting you knocked of Amazon and Google?
Hamas and Hezbollah are rival powers and religious groups one sunni one shiite so yeah good assumption that they aren't working together there genius. They don't like each other all that much. Do some research before you make posts why don't you.
ps Hezbollah = Syrian Influence in Lebanon, sorry not sure if you were bright enough to pick that one up on your own and i figured I should clarify myself.
Quote :They don’t like each other all that much. Do some research before you make posts why don’t you.
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Does it really matter if Hamas and Hizbullah dont like each other , (i have seen anything that proves that ) after all , each in a different country and has a similiar mission , serve the people first and not be a US puppet . I think during all the Hezbollah speeches i have heard, there was respect for Hamas .
Your comments are completely irresponsible. I hope you are aware of the blood on your hands. Of course I empathise with your perspective but by supporting a terrorist organisation, and defending their actions, you are complicit in their killing and of the impact that this has on the lives of the palestinian people.
I think you should take more responsibility for your words and think of the innocent children who die because of the conflict. The only way to gain peace from taught political situations is to reach a middle ground and compromise. By your inability to see th perspective of your enemy, you are as bad as those who act in violence against your beleifs.
You are wrong. Historically, the best and practically the only way to gain peace was to destroy one's enemy. When Britain compromised in Munich on Czechoslovakia, the WWII started.
As R.Kahane used to say, we're ready to compromise: we'll take land, and Arabs will take peace.