Palestinian Civil War Continues
More news from Palestine:
- Nine Palestinians killed in Hamas-Fatah gunfights in Gaza. Hamas seems to have a ‘hit-list’ of Fatah officials it wants to kill. “The top name on the list is PA National Security Adviser Muhammad Dahlan, who is currently in Egypt.” The fighting has, reportedly, also spread to the West Bank.
- Human Rights Watch says that “armed Palestinian groups have committed serious violations of international humanitarian law during recent fighting in the Gaza Strip, in some cases amounting to war crimes.” Both Hamas and Fatah have, for instance, executed captives, “killed people not involved in hostilities, and engaged in gun battles with one another inside and near Palestinian hospitals.”
Newsflash: terrorists tend to ignore human rights.
- Egypt has ordered Mashaal – who is the leader of Hamas but lives in Syria – to tell his fighters / terrorists to “hold their fire and desist from attacks on Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’ presidential compound.”
Egypts blames the fighting on external factors. Now, before certain people start blaming Israel – Egypt believes that Iran is behind it all. Same goes for Fatah: Fatah has accused both Syria and Iran of staging the civil war.
- CNN has more (including videos). CNN quotes a Palestinian official as saying: “If anybody thinks that we will be a winner out of this fire, I think they’re wrong. “If this fire continues, it will burn all of us. Nobody stands to gain anything.”
The Gospel of Matthew, 12:25-26:
Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
H/t Holly for quite some of the links.
10 Responses to “Palestinian Civil War Continues”
Michael – This is a terrible and sad situation. It is beyond the finger pointing and blame making at this stage. If Gaza becomes are truly failed state( it is now on the verge) then the peace process (such as it is) will be in abeyance for another 5 years.
Fatah has proven it’s incompetence to govern. The corruption seems too ingrained and the boycott presents them with an impossible hill to climb. It now appears that Hamas is on the verge of completely taking over Gaza according to the latest news reports. Hamas still has the moral authority amoung Palestinians to govern. We’ll see if they take up the challenge in Gaza.
I honestly think Hamas represents Israel’s best chance for a peace partner. I say this as a Jew who has many relatives living in Israel and the settlements and who loves Israel. Hamas has the same standing amoung Palestinians as Arafat once did and Hamas has a chance to impose law and order in the Palestinian areas. If Israel can get Hamas to agree to peace terms (no easy task) then I believe that such a peace deal could be enforced.
If Israel really wants a peace deal then they have to talk with Hamas. No peace deal worth the printing is possible without Hamas’ agreement. Any thinking that Hamas will go away or be defeated is pure delusion. Most wars end when the two enemies start talking. We did it in Korea and Vietnam and if you look at history it’s been done hundreds of times. The allure of an enemies unconditional surrender (Germany & Japan) is simply not feasible in this situation.
Israel, the US and the world should think about the following in plotting their policies. Neither Egypt or Jordan will annex the Palestinian territories – not tommorrow or next year or in 100 years. They know that the Palestinians will never submit to foreign control and they don’t wish to be the new Israelis. If a two state solution is not found soon, Israel may witness the collapse of the PA and then find themselves in control of the care, feeding and education of millions of Palestinians. As the occupying power under International law, Palestinians are Israel’s problem and one that cannot be jettisoned by unilateral withdrawal behind fences.
Israel has a tar baby on their hands and right now both they and the Palestinians are covered with it. One of the two parties has to take the initiative to get out of the tar pit before both sink into oblivion.
News from Palestine/Israel is beginning to feel like watching a number of cars heading for an unavoidable collision. Everyone knows the crash will be terrible. Everyone stares in amazement and horror. No one can stop it.
It was said:
???
The obligation is upon Hamas to cease terrorism and recognize Israel, obviously. (!!!)
Hamas refuses to accept Israel’s right to exist.
The idea of talking with Hamas is so that they recognize Israel. The very act of negotiations assumes recognition. Obviously, any peace agreement enshrines recognition of Israel. What the Hell do you guys want – for Hamas and the Palestinians to grovel at Israel’s feet? Do you want a tangible peace or the intangible satisfaction of “winning” and “superiority”?
There can be no “tangible peace” with the Palestinians as long as Hamas is in power.
Perhaps after this mess, palestinians will finally turn against Hamas. If they do, Israel, the West, the Palestinians and the Arab world can talk about peace in the region.
jdledell:
Maybe these folks just really want to do the Church Lady’s “superior dance”?
“There can be no “tangible peace†with the Palestinians as long as Hamas is in power.”
Michael – You sure are confident about the future. Do you have any stock tips for me? For a 22 year old Dutchman who has NEVER been to the Levant and probabably has never met a Palestinian or an Israeli, I find your opinions on this matter ill-informed and insulting. Would you please list your qualifications to comment on such a complicated and sensitive matter!!!!!!
How can Israel expect someone to honor whatever promises they might make in negotiations when that group refuses to recognize their right to exist? When the destruction of Israel is the core principle of an organization what basis is there for negotiation?
Jim – Hamas’s position on Israel is no different than Egypt, Syria, Jordan, the PLO have had in the past. In all cases once negotiations started, attitudes towards Israel shifted. None loved Israel, but they recognized it. The same will be true of Hamas.
Hamas won an election to become the government of Palestine. Israel and the US never recognized their legitimacy or recognized their government. Both sides can keep up this mutual non recgnition or they can sit down and talk to see if peace is possible.
My grandfather fought with the Irgun from 1946 to 1948 and I can assure you that the British considered the Irgun the same way Hamas is viewed today. Yet, they eventually sat down and worked out a transition of power and MUTUAL RECOGNITION.