Up-Date 2: Hamas and Rockets

In my posting of January 17, I suggested that Hamas' decision to continue firing rockets into Israel, despite the fact that it was clearly being defeated by Israel militarily, was based to a very large degree on its perception that it was winning the political/propaganda war. The protesting countries, international organizations, academic boycotters, the streets full of leftists, anti-Americans, anti-Westerners, anti-Zionists, anti-Semites, as well as the naive, the ignorant, the uninformed, and the well-meaning became, whether intentionally or not, a cheering section for Hamas. Hamas was more than willing to sacrifice the lives, homes and future of the Palestinian people for its propaganda victory. Success in its goal to isolate Israel and Israelis, and to turn it into a pariah nation, was, in Hamas' mind, worth the enormous costs which the Palestinian people were forced to pay.

The day after my posting, the Israelis declared a unilateral cease fire and in a matter of a few days completely withdrew its forces from Gaza. Despite this, some rocket firing continued and continues to this day, albeit at a much reduced rate. It will only take one rocket, however, to strike a kindergarten and injure or kill innocent Israeli children. Whether it is Hamas or some other group which is firing these rockets is of no matter. Hamas controls Gaza and is responsible for what takes place there. As members of Fatah and suspected "collaborators" have learned well, Hamas has no compunction in dealing murderously with those who oppose it.

It is interesting to note what has happened since the Israelis withdrew. World leaders and organizations continued to condemn Israel. Whether it was the Turkish Prime Minister, who in a dramatic pique of juvenile immaturity, accused Nobel Peace Prize winner Shimon Peres of "knowing very well how to kill" before he stormed off the stage at Davos, a Spanish judge who ordered a probe of war crimes allegedly committed by Israeli Minister Ben-Eliezer in Gaza in 2002, or American university professors who called for an academic and cultural boycott of Israel, the propaganda victory sought to be achieved by Hamas seemed to have been attained. That the goal of the Hamas rocket attacks into Israel was to provoke the devastating Israeli response was admitted by Hamas leaders themselves. A senior Hamas official in Gaza reportedly told a "victory" rally of 5,000 in Gaza that "We thank God when we see our houses bombed and our institutions destroyed..".

It is interesting, however, to note that unlike those in the Western world, who live in safe places far from the scene of battle, and are more than willing to condemn Israel for the carnage in Gaza, there are those in the Arab world who recognize Hamas' role and twisted strategy for what it is. Haaretz reports that President Mubarak of Egypt accused Hamas of responsibility for the shedding of Arab blood, and urged Palestinians to hold Hamas responsible for the sacrifices, the pain and the destruction it had caused the Palestinian people. Al Jazeera reports that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that "Hamas had put the lives and aspirations of Palestinians at risk by promoting conflict". It quoted Abbas as having said that "they.. have taken risks with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate, and dreams and aspirations for an independent Palestinian state".

So there it is. The fighting has not completely stopped, and can easily flare up again. Instead of isolating and condemning Israel, those who truly want a peaceful resolution of the conflict must be clear in depriving Hamas of any political or public relations gains it wishes to make by provoking the destruction of Gaza. Show the courage of Mubarak and Abbas. Condemn and isolate Hamas, and thereby encourage the peacemakers.