No Change for the Present: When Will it End?
Hamas is
dangerous, as are all terrorist entities. But if Hamas is so absurdly
dangerous, a question arises. Why, since this most recent outbreak between
Israeli and Palestinian Hamas, have only 60 Israeli soldiers and 3 civilians
been killed as opposed to the horrific death toll of Palestinians - over 1600
civilians with an additional nearly 9000 injured?
Check any
articles or sites on the conflict since 1947. Nothing changes. Opinions vary
from reasonable UN resolutions advocating a two-state solution to the more
extreme radicals from both sides insisting that nothing will work but pushing
the Israelis into a one-state system under mutual representation, or
conversely, pushing the Palestinians away from all but the most minimal
possessions.
Egypt
announced its willingness to host the two sides to peace talks. The new Egyptian
president al-Sisi prefers establishing a relationship with Israel rather than
Hamas. Hamas is supported by the Muslim Brotherhood with the financial support
of Qatar. Under Morsi of Egypt, Hamas enjoyed better relations with Egypt. Al-Sisi
in yesterday’s speech, agreed that the violence and killing in Gaza must end.
Yet he partially blamed Hamas for the killing of so many civilians. He
commented that no responsible military would put its weapons in the midst of
crowded civilian streets. But that is all the land they have. Study the maps on
this website. See the retraction of Palestinian borders since 1947. These lands
have not been given up voluntarily, but have been taken by Israeli military. This
is another layer of complications in the multi-tiered problems between
Palestinians and Israelis. Hamas does not enjoy universal support from most
Muslims. It represents an arm of Islam unacceptable to many moderate Muslims,
what it does is reprehensible. The Palestinian Free State President Abbas is at
loggerheads with Hamas, and in Egypt, since the election of al-Sisi, the
Brotherhood is now declared illegal, with most of its leaders, including Morsi,
arrested.
As of 2
August 2014 [US EDT], Egypt opened its doors as mediator between the two sides.
Is a part of Egypt’s incentive the new offer of US financial support to Egypt? So
far, Palestinians have accepted the invitation, sending representatives to
Cairo. However, it needs to be a real two-state negotiation. Hamas is armed and
dangerous, willing to sacrifice all to achieve its goals of establishing a
Palestinian State giving Palestinians economic stability, freedom from Israeli
blockades along the Mediterranean Sea, freedom to establish settlements along
the Gaza Strip and West Bank lands.
On Sunday
morning, Meet the Press with David Gregory, one of his guests was Mr Riyad
Mansour, the Permanent UN Palestinian Observer. A moderate Palestinian, he
attempted to explain how peace might be brought about. Drop the blockade, open
the borders, give the 1.8 million Gazans hope that education and jobs can be
attained would help bring an end to support for Hamas and shine a brighter
light from Free State Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Unfortunately, David
Gregory seemed intent on hearing only one thing, that Mr Mansour was outraged
at the actions of Hamas. In the end the UN Observer Mr Mansour ably presented a
reasonable argument, overriding David Gregory’s continued interruptions.
Mr
Mansour’s viewpoint is shared by others. In France on Saturday, violent
protests broke out opposing the Israeli actions against innocent civilians. A
large protest in the US took place yesterday outside the White House objecting
to Israeli Prime Minister’s continuing position – declaring Israel’s intent to
achieve its goals regardless.
One
Israeli soldier is missing, fate unknown, what about the thousands of
Palestinian civilians bombed, shelled, killed by Israeli military. Gaza is in
tatters, every two years military outbursts take place. The number of deaths,
mostly civilians, has now reached over 1700, with another 9,000 injured.
Israel’s
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke Saturday saying that ‘terrorism doesn’t
have borders’, stressing the murderousness of Hamas. He continued to play on
global fears of the terrorism of Hamas. Israel will ‘continue to act full-scale
to destroy Hamas’, will ‘regroup after destruction of Hamas tunnels and decide
what to do next’. He encourages the international community to support what
Israel does to end the ‘threat of terrorism and Hamas and Israel’s only
obligation is to the people of Israel’. The international community is not
ignorant of terrorism, what it wants is details. When will this end, will
Israel come to the peace talks? Nothing like this was discussed in Netanyahu’s
speech. He continued stressing Israel’s mission. As he spoke more than 50
Palestinians were killed.
Following
Netanyahu, the defence minister proudly mentioned that on Friday Israel
destroyed the University in Gaza where he claimed weapons are being made. He
further said that Israel will not give up and their ‘mission will continue for
a long time to come’. In addition, he stated that even the destruction of
schools if under suspicion, will not cease.
Apparently,
there is no immediate end in sight. The Israeli prime minister and defence
minister both stated emphatically that Israel has no obligation to stop what it
is doing, it will continue this operation until their goal is achieved’. Is
their goal the destruction of Hamas or the complete takeover of Palestinian
lands in Gaza? Netanyahu on whether Israel should conquer Gaza: ‘all options
are on the table’. It appears that cease-fire and end to bloodshed is not on
the table according to the Israeli leaders. But if the world can convince the
Israeli’s to lift the blockade, give hope to Palestinians, particularly those
in Gaza, will it initiate the first steps toward peace in the region?
Maps of
Israel’s changing landscape and borders since 1947.
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