With Hamas refusing to recognize Israel despite diplomatic pressure and repeated threat of military action and even killing of a few Hamas leaders, Israel tries to brow beat Hamas by cordoning off Gaza and laying a virtual siege to that area, preventing any access by people, good or even humanitarian aid quite often. This increases the suffering of local population with food, water, sanitation facilities, and even fuel for running their factories and producing electricity running low. With no goods being produced and access to markets being cut off completely, no electricity for even the most basic tasks like running emergency services in hospitals, Gazans are driven to a point of desperation that they actually break thru the border with Egypt to get basic supplies and medicines. This eases their suffering for some time, but with Israeli forces patrolling on one side and Egyptian police cracking down on any border breaches from the other, situation quickly deteriorates from bad to worse.Hamas tries to ‘take revenge’ by firing a number of crude homemade rockets with increasing range but with absolutely no accuracy, into southern Israel eventually killing one civilian (an Arab-Israeli man). There are also a couple of injuries reported.This leads to the Israeli leadership to decide to clamp down on Gaza and for once ‘remove the threat from the radical Hamas movement’ ‘once and for all’. And of-course they needed to do all of this before President Bush leaves office and President Obama’s administration, which potentially will not turn a blind eye to the excesses that the Israeli security forces will invariably commit, takes office.
Unfortunately we have seen this cycle of violence repeated over and over again in the past few years (in Gaza as well as Lebanon) and there is absolutely no evidence that the bombing or even a ground invasion will lead to a reduction in violence or ‘destroy Hamas’s abilities’ or convince the Gaza citizens to ‘renounce’ violence and ‘embrace Israel as an ally’ (quite like southern Lebanon).
From a not so shining past (read the following article on the formation of Hamas: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article10456.htm), Hamas has come a long way, becoming the undisputed leader in the cause of the Palestinian resistance to Israeli occupation. It is obvious that the Israeli government sincerely believes that they can actually undermine and drastically reduce the popularity of Hamas by making the Palestinians collectively suffer for the ‘grave mistakes of the banned terrorist organization – Hamas’. In short they are trying the same formula that was applied to the Jewish population more than 2000 years ago – terrorize the locals to such an extent that they either leave the area and migrate to distant lands, or rise up in revolt, which can be quickly squelched and the people involved can be massacred, or swear loyalty to the biggest kid on the block basically accepting whatever peace-deals are put forward by Israel.
They do tend to forget that this is not the BC era and the people of Israel are not the citizens of a distant and unconcerned Rome. Information does spread out quickly and making the civilians suffer creates a sense of resentment even among the citizens of Israel, leading to the formation of pro-peace groups within Israel, (like Rabbis for Human Rights: http://www.rhr.israel.net/,
Gush Shalom: http://www.gush-shalom.org/english,
Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions: http://www.icahd.org/,
Yesh Gvul: http://www.yeshgvul.org/index_e.asp,
New Profile: http://www.newprofile.org/english,
Ta'ayush: http://www.taayush.org/ etc).
Moreover, Israel faces a group that have been radicalized by their decades long suffering and wholeheartedly believe in the following:
وَقَاتِلُواْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللّهِ الَّذِينَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ وَلاَ تَعْتَدُواْ إِنَّ اللّهَ لاَ يُحِبِّ الْمُعْتَدِينَO وَاقْتُلُوهُمْ حَيْثُ ثَقِفْتُمُوهُمْ وَأَخْرِجُوهُم مِّنْ حَيْثُ أَخْرَجُوكُمْ وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ وَلاَ تُقَاتِلُوهُمْ عِندَ الْمَسْجِدِ الْحَرَامِ حَتَّى يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِيهِ فَإِن قَاتَلُوكُمْ فَاقْتُلُوهُمْ كَذَلِكَ جَزَاء الْكَافِرِينَ O فَإِنِ انتَهَوْاْ فَإِنَّ اللّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ O وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لاَ تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلّهِ فَإِنِ انتَهَواْ فَلاَ عُدْوَانَ إِلاَّ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَ O
AND fight in God's cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression-for, verily, God does not love aggressors.
And slay them wherever you may come upon them, and drive them away from wherever they drove you away - for oppression is even worse than killing. And fight not against them near the Inviolable House of Worship unless they fight against you there first; but if they fight against you, slay them: such shall be the recompense of those who deny the truth.
But if they desist-behold, God is much-forgiving, a dispenser of grace.
Hence, fight against them until there is no more oppression and all worship is devoted to God alone; but if they desist, then all hostility shall cease, save against those who [wilfully] do wrong.
(Al-Qur’an Chapter 2, Verse 190 – 193)
Palestinians believe in the concept of 'Jihad' as they are indeed fighting oppression and occupation and being turned away from their homes. They have suffered the worst kind of attrocities and humiliation anywhere in the world for the past 60 years. This feeling is often exploited by extremist groups not only in Palestine, but elsewhere in the Muslim world by extremist groups like Al-Qaeda who find easy and willing recruit in these oppressed groups to act as 'suicide-bombers' willing to kill themselves to try to return a part of the pain back to the oppressors.
Hamas knows this well. They also realize that Palestinians need effective leadership – a type of leadership who are free from the taint of corruption, a type of leadership who can be relied upon to take care of their citizens, one which will try their utmost to work for the people with whatever resources made available to them.
Hamas has proven time and again, that they are such a group of leaders. While Fatah and other faction have been mired in one corruption scandal after another, Hamas was busy try to organize relief work in Palestine, especially Gaza which is way poorer of the two areas. They ran non-profit hospitals, relief camps, kitchens often smuggling in supplies to distribute among the people of Gaza. All this while they lived simple and austere lives.
Their organizational skills were apparent the day they took over Gaza after driving out Fatah gunmen from Gaza – almost overnight the traffic looked orderly, there was relative security and services were running again.Hence Hamas leadership knows it well, when the people of Gaza (and to an extent even West Bank) are made to suffer, they automatically blame the government of Israel and the occupiers of the illegal settlements built on land snatched away from Palestinians. And to an extent the blame will be on the Palestinians Authority leaders from the Fatah faction, who will then be blamed as co-conspirators along with all Arab governments who keep silent all this time only to rise up to blame any action by Hamas.
This eventually weakens the pro-peace movements in Palestinian and Arab world.The fallout of the current and future Israeli security forces action will keep weakening the local dictatorial governments to such an extent that they will lose all remaining credibility with the locals destabilizing the whole area creating a vacuum ideal for Al-Qaeda type movements. Any attempts to bring democracy at that time will only bring anti-western fundamentalists (much worse than Hamas) into power in the whole area.
So what is the solution to this increasingly vicious cycle of hatred and killing that looks to spiral out of control? I propose a simple and step wise solution that might actually work (well at least it seems to be the only solution being remotely acceptable to both sides).
Here are the pre-conditions put down by the Israeli government in order for any peace deal be acceptable to them. Of-course a lot of these points are hotly contested by a section of the Israeli population, especially the ultra-orthodox who claim a huge swath of land currently a part Gaza and West Bank and some even in the Sinai peninsula under Egyptian control):
1. Palestinians (represented by the Palestinian Authority, by all their leaders and political parties including Fatah and Hamas) should recognize the right of Israel to exist.
2. All attacks directed towards Israel, its citizens, its interests and allies should end immediately. All armed groups need to be disarmed except for the Palestinian Authority security forces. A clamp down on all and any individuals planning attacks on Israeli interests.
3. Recognize the final borders of Israel to include about 12 % of the area of West Bank (as per the 1967 borders) and a good part of Gaza. Alternatively, as per the ‘Defensible Borders’ strategy laid out by then foreign minister Ariel Sharon in 1999, should include 2 ‘security zones in West Bank (An eastern security zone between 9 and 12 miles wide and A western security zone, 3 to 6 miles deep) and a part of Gaza that was claimed by the ultra-orthodox.
4. Jerusalem to be declared to be an integral part of Israel and to be recognized as the capital.
5. All the Arab and Muslim countries recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Israel.
6. All hostilities with neighboring countries including Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt declared ended and normal diplomatic and trade relations established with all of its neighbors.
On the Palestinian side, even though an equally wide range of opinions exists (from the now moderate Fatah to Hamas who does not believe in the right of the Israeli Government to exist and control a Jewish state), the following would be widely acceptable for good majority:
1. The 1967 borders are identified as the final borders between the two countries.
2. The whole of Jerusalem be identified as being Palestinian territory and as the capital of the future Palestinian State.
3. Promise of security, stability and independence of a future Palestinian state from the influence of the big kids on the block, especially Israel.
4. Release of all Palestinian ‘Political’ prisoners from Israeli jails.
5. A good viable connection between the two swaths of Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza created allowing unhindered traffic between the two areas, not controlled by the Israelis. An area of air space be created that would allow air traffic between the two areas as well.
6. Control over the sea port in Gaza and a corresponding area of sea declared its maritime border with a viable ‘Palestinian’ coast guard patrolling it.
7. Right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their former homes, whether in Palestinian areas or in Israel.
Of these the most contentious points, of-course, are clamp-down on violence against Israel and against the Palestinians in Gaza and to an extent in the West Bank, the status of Jerusalem and the status of Palestinian refugees who now number in the millions. If these refugees are allowed back into their former homes, now in control of the Israeli government, it could potentially threaten the very definition of Israel as a ‘Jewish’ state. But these refugees represent one of the most shameful episodes for humanity in the 21st century and need to be a part of any comprehensive solution.
And Hamas, with their tremendous appeal in the Arab and Muslim world and the threat they along with their fellow ‘ideologs’ in Muslim Brotherhood, Hezbollah etc., pose to the complete and brutal control of the current Arab despotic governments, need to be part of the solution as well.
This complex situation would need a step wise approach led by US. Yes, the US needs to stop acting as an unconcerned friend staying overseas and start acting as the only adult in the room filled with pre-adolescent kids. It is the only country with enough leverage on both sides, with its historical friendship with Israel and future President Obama’s tremendous appeal overseas especially in the Muslim world. It needs to stop acting as a ‘groupie’ of Israel and act as a true friend advising it and shepherding it to a peaceful path and at the same time using a carrot and stick policy to drive all involved parties acting on behalf of and supporting the Palestinians.
The US leadership also needs to realize that radical groups like Hamas with legitimate power among the locals and popular elected leaders need to be a part of the solution, at least initially. If the US leadership needs to address the local Muslims in the Arab world, nothing will speak louder than a hand of cooperation extended to these groups. If it is then rejected by these groups, they will immediately start losing legitimacy and popularity.
Of course this hand needs to be extended as equals in a peace process and not as master to a slave or as a victor’s to the vanquished. And in order to undermine their radical agenda, legitimate concerns of the local s need to be addressed, like a right to live in their own homes without being harassed by searches at any time of a foreign security force’s choosing (yes Israel is a foreign country to them), or the right to travel to work or a hospital or anywhere in their own land without having to pass thru numerous checkpoints and often being turned back without any reason, going out without having to fear the odds of not returning back home alive, not having to fear being turned out of their own lands just because some foreigner decide that those homes now exist on lands that belonged to their ancestors a couple of thousands of years ago!
Here is what can be done:
1. As a very first step a ‘hundred year ceasefire’ needs to be negotiated between Hamas and Israel:
a. There is no doubt that as long as it exists in the present state, Hamas cannot agree to recognize Israel’s right to exists as a Jewish state and without settling all the Palestinian refugees back in now Israeli lands. Thus a best option would be to start with a formal truce for an extended period (hence a ‘100’ year term). Both areas would then have a prospect of a relatively secure existence in the near future.In return a security arrangement should be negotiated where a UN led peacekeeping force would be responsible to protect Palestinian lands and their airspace. The terms of the truce should be such that any party to violate the truce conditions, which should include complete cessation of hostilities from either side (no rockets, no missiles, and no targeted assassinations including that of Hamas and Fatah leadership in Syria etc.), should pay heavily.No incursion by Israeli forces, either by land or air or sea should be allowed. Similarly, even one rocket attack would be considered a violation of the terms. In this case the local authorities (elected positions of power, currently held by Hamas in Gaza and by Fatah in the West Bank) should be responsible for arresting and prosecuting the perpetrators in a reasonable amount of time. If this is not done then Palestinians will be responsible for violating the terms and the Israeli government will then be allowed to ‘take out’ those individuals and the Palestinian authorities will have to face appropriate international censure.The truce agreement should include terms to gradually integrate Hamas security force as a separate division of the Palestinian Authority security forces.
Within a year or so of the truce, Hamas should be recognized as a legitimate political party. After all they were elected by a huge majority in legitimate election pushed forward by the US. And they are still hugely popular in the streets of Palestine and in the rest of the Arab world.
b. This will have to include an agreement to roll back of all of the settlements from the Palestinian territories (Gaza as well as the West Bank) that were built after 1993. This will have to include dismantling the so called ‘security wall’ that Israel has constructed, repeatedly encroaching into Palestinian territory. If required, this wall should be moved inside the Israeli borders and should under no conditions violate the Palestinian space. These terms need to have a fixed timeline as the progress can be firmly verified.
c. In return Israel should be offered a formal truce from all Arab states still formally at state of war (possibly with exception to Lebanon, which would be possibly only after Israel withdraws from disputed areas as well as lands seized during previous wars). Direct talks between all parties involved should be started with the meetings being chaired by US envoys. Of course the day to day progress on these meeting and their participants need to be kept a secret as these can potentially go on for a very long time.
d. Simultaneously, direct talks should be started with Iran, Syria, Lebanon (Hezbollah should be represented) and Egypt (Muslim Brotherhood should be represented separately). An offer should be made to the Iranians where they should open up all their past activities regarding any nuclear weapons program (probably in secret high level negotiations). In return US should recognize the right of Iran to enrich uranium for their power generation program under strict UN supervision. Iran can be huge partner in bringing stability to the middle-east being one of the few countries in the area with a stable and more-or-less popular government with some semblance to democracy. Moreover since the Iraq invasion their influence has grown by leaps and bounds (thanks to the US) and now is a major player on the world stage which can no longer be ignored.
e. Once this truce is signed on to, a massive reconstruction and ‘economy building’ effort should be under taken within Palestinian territories under the UN mandate and monitored closely by the US. Building of new schools, hospitals, road, bridges, universities etc., and repair of existing ones should be undertaken. All this should be done thru open contracts that should be bid for internationally in an open process and should include the terms to employ Palestinians (from the area and abroad) in a majority of the positions opened by this effort. In this effort, the ground presence of Hamas volunteers can be useful. This will also make them involved in the process.The borders should be closely monitored to prevent smuggling in weapons, by a UN security force reporting directly to the Security Council.
2. Once the above is achieved and a few years pass by, elections should be held in all Palestinian area for local as well as Parliamentary and Presidential election. Hopefully by then the Palestinians should have tasted a few years of peace and respectful and prosperous existence besides Israel. This would reduce the chance of a Hamas victory (or would drastically alter their ‘fundamentalist’ manifesto calling for the destruction of the Israeli state). Hopefully the moderate factions of Hamas should be able to join the political movement under a separate umbrella, willing to make permanent peace with Israel.
3. US also needs to get involved directly with more ‘democratic leaning’ (albeit ‘Islamic Democracy’) parties in the Islamic World, including ‘Muslim Brotherhood’ instead of just listening to the local governments.The US needs to realize that negotiating with dictatorial regimes that exists right across the Middle-east will never make it even a bit popular in the Arab world. If it needs to improve its standings and spread democracy thru this area (proverbially ‘killing two birds with one stone’), they will have to improve their contact with the local population and talk to their true representatives (especially in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Pakistan etc.).
4. Once the above steps are in place, multiparty negotiations should be launched to determine the final state of the Palestinian state and its boundaries:
a. The 1967 border should be initial mark from where the negotiations should start.
b. The status of Jerusalem needs to be negotiated between the two parties, but it may have to be one of the two scenarios mentioned below:
i. Jerusalem divided into East and West Jerusalem with the area around the Temple Mount and Masjid Al-Aqsa declared a de-militarized zone with no troops from either side present inside or around the structure. The access should be controlled either by a local police force comprising of Jews to control the access to the Western Wall and Jewish areas and a Muslims controlling the access to Masjid Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock.
OR
ii. The whole of Jerusalem should be declared an International Protectorate and a demilitarized zone with neither side in control of the city.
c. If Israel claims any lands beyond the limits of the 1967 boundary, they will have to negotiate with the Palestinians and give back an equal amount of land to the Palestinians elsewhere.
d. The negotiations should aim at complete independence of the Israeli and Palestinian states from each, co-existing peacefully as equal neighbors. All the boundaries negotiated should immediately be ratified by the UN and recognized as international borders. Only the areas under dispute should be left unmarked (this should be avoided and should be allowed only in case negotiations regarding those boundaries come to a complete standstill).
e. One of the most critical issues, as I have mentioned earlier, is the status of Palestinian refugees. Till a time where this is satisfactorily settled, the situation will always have a propensity of sliding back into violence. I propose that all families displaced by the formation of Israel and the violence following it till now, should be monetarily compensated to rehabilitate them elsewhere in a Palestinian state. The compensation should be calculated by an independent body (probably by UNHCR or some relief group in good standing with both parties).The relief money itself should be collected by an international effort led by Israel and the US, but also contributed to by the EU nations and the rest of the Arab world and even other member nations of the UN.
There is no question that a lot of US ‘experts in that area have come to realize that resorting to military means or supporting/ propping up corrupt governments in these Arab / Muslim lands have led to the current impasse and the support of ideologically parties in these area. Till a time when even a single individual is left alive in these parts, this policy of intimidation and control will only result in more violence and more radicalization of the locals.
The decades (or even centuries) old policy of trying to ‘westernize’ these ‘pagans’ will only result in clash of cultures and rise of violent ideologies that can be harnessed by groups like Al-Qaeda. Peace can only be achieved thru peaceful and respectful overtures and respect toward the faith and practices of the locals.
For once, people in these areas need to see that the US and the other western powers are not just interested in exploiting the local resources and populations to maximize their profits or to spread their agenda. And this time the ‘west’ will not abandon them once their strategic / political aims are achieved. Rather, the west is willing to rough it out solely for the sake of peace and prosperity for everybody and for the development of the whole of humanity. This time they will not be abandoned after the defeat of the Soviet Empire.
A couple of interesting articles I came across on the web this week:
Obama should engage Hamas, former U.S. envoy, Gen. Anthony Zinni (Retd.), says: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/30/obama.gaza/index.html?iref=topnews
Robert Fisk - Why bombing Ashkelon is the most tragic irony: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/fisk/robert-fisk-why-bombing-ashkelon-is-the-most-tragic-irony-1216228.html
Rosa Brooks: - Israel can't bomb its way to peace:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brooks1-2009jan01,0,7318203.column
Jennifer Loewenstein: If Hamas Did Not Exist (Israel Has No Intention of Granting a Palestinian State ): http://www.counterpunch.org/loewenstein01012009.html
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