Who are the Enemies?

 Let’s face it, the land that the three Abrahamic Faiths call Holy is anything but. At the time of writing, it has been reported that at least 3,500 people have died on both sides, 12,000 have been wounded and 400,000 have been displaced in the Gaza Strip. The sad statistics can be found at:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/10/14/israel-hamas-conflict-the-grim-statistics-after-a-week-of-war/?sh=59a48c244407

Unfortunately, for the people in the region, this bout of Unholy activity is playing out like a “Reality TV” series. The argument is that if you read the Bible, “Israel” has been fighting a number of adversaries in this region ever since there have been people. So, this latest bout of “Unholy” activity is considered “business as usual.”

Then, you’ve got to deal with the lot that believe that God is a “real-estate” agent who promised a plot of land to a Semitic Man and his decedents.  Hence, whenever you get Unholy activity in this part of the world, you will have this lot getting worked up as to why the brown semitic people who lost their homes are getting upset with the European settlers who displaced them.

Unfortunately for the people in the region these two groups have a lot of power. It is not in their interest to see peace.

Let’s face it, the Israeli-Palestinian issue is solvable. In 1994, the late Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin reached out to his enemy, Yasser Arafat and reached a “Land-for-Peace,” deal which was supported by the majority on both sides. In theory, this could have a brilliant success if you managed to get two separate entities combining their respective strengths – Israel with her technology know-how and the Palestinians with their pool of labour.

Peace was not in the interest of powerful factions. Mr. Rabin was assassinated by a Jewish Settler called Yigal Amir. That was effectively the end of the hope of peace. Israelis ended up with a politician that was to stick with them for three decades – Benyamin Netanyahu. This was a man who built his entire career on taking apart the peace process that Mr. Rabin tried so hard to take apart. Mr. Netanyahu has for the record, been accused of assisting Mr. Rabin’s assassin.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/labor-chief-michaeli-rabin-was-assassinated-with-netanyahus-cooperation/

 

 In a way, Mr. Netanyahu was supported by the Palestinians who couldn’t deliver the peace he said he wanted. Mr. Arafat ended up being boxed into his compound in Ramallah and wasn’t able to do anything. Sure, he did attend a negotiation with Mr. Netanyahu’s successor as Prime Minister, Ehud Barak and much to distaste of Western and Israeli commentators, turned down the deal (which Palestinians pointed out – screwed them). Mr. Barak was replaced b Ariel Sharon, who proceeded to ensure that Mr. Arafat rotted away in his compound.

Mr. Arafat was replaced by Mahmoud Abas, who was, to put it politely, ineffective. Israeli and Western powers screwed him and when Mr. Abas failed to deliver as expected, the Palestinian people turned to the more radical group called Hamas, who believed that the only way to get the world to listen was through violence. When Hamas won an election in 2006, the Western World, lead by the USA, proceeded to sanction them, thus proving the radical elements right in its argument that Israel and its Western backers had no interest in listening to anything the Palestinians had to say.

Mr. Netanyahu found his way back to power and whenever his American backers suggested he attempt to make peace, his argument was – Who exactly was he to make peace with? Was it Fatah, which couldn’t deliver (waste time) or Hamas, who were irrationally bent on destroying Israel (don’t go there).

So, when Hamas launched its latest raid this month, Mr. Netanyahu had a field day projecting himself as a hero protecting the people against a group of radical nut jobs to support his falling poll ratings, just in time for the upcoming Israeli elections. Stories about Hamas going on a raping and baby-beheading spree have helped boost Mr. Netanyahu’s efforts to bomb the Gaza strip back to the Jurassic Age.

However, there’s one slight problem for Mr. Netanyahu. According to a Times of Israel editorial by its diplomatic correspondent, Tal Schneider, Mr. Netanyahu’s relationship with Hamas isn’t quite as adversarial as he might want the world to believe:

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

 

Hamas has been for Mr. Netanyahu, the convenient bogeyman. They fire rockets into Israel proper, hence Mr. Netanyahu has been able to claim to the Israel public that they’re too irrationally violent to deal with. More importantly, they make life utterly miserable for Mr. Abbas, the Palestinian President. Thanks to Hamas, Mr. Netanyahu’s claim that there’s no Palestinian faction he can negotiate with is valid.

Ms. Schneider’s article describes the ways in which Israeli governments lead by Mr. Netanyahu and his allies allowed Hamas to raise cash through worker remittances and through the Qatari government – things which the Israeli government could have stopped.

Israel is for the record, not the only nation with issues with Hamas. Egypt, the Arab nation with the most people does not like Hamas, as do the GCC (with the exception of Qatar) and Jordan. In fact, Egyptian intelligence did warn Mr. Netanyahu that the group was up to something, a warning which he chose to ignore.

So, instead of building an alliance against the radical elements of Hamas, Mr. Netanyahu chose to strengthen them. How does one describe a head of government that strengthens a group that has called for your nation’s extermination? Israelis deserve a leader like Rabin who was willing to solidify military gains by trading land for peace. When this Unholy War is over, Israelis should put an end to the Netanyahu era at the ballot box and see to it that he faces justice.