September 29th, 2006
Is it a Good Idea to Replace Hamas with Fatah?
The dramatic decline in support for Hamas among Palestinians is taken as a good sign by Israel’s government and the American administration. It is, indeed, a good sign, given the fact that the Hamas ideology, is not only violent, but also offers apocalyptic hopes in lieu of political plans But both the Israeli and the American policy makers are not happy for the right reasons. They’re hoping to block the move for a Fatah-Hamas national unity government, have the parliament dissolved, and then get a Fatah controlled government after new elections.
But this is a near sighted, and useless hope. Not because Fatah can’t win. It probably can. But rather because this will make Hamas popular again. The worst scenario for anyone who hopes for partition and Palestinian independence, so necessary for the well being of both Israelis and Palestinians, is going back to a situation in which Hamas will be able to dictate a radical uncompromising policy without paying a price. This it can do as an opposition and an underground. Terrorists have hijacked the agenda before, and they can do it again. As part of the government, under pressure to deliver – jobs, food, administration – Hamas may not have to change its declarations, but it would have to change its policy. Throwing it back outside government will increase chaos in the Palestinian territories, possibly to a full scale civil war, and would leave us all hostages to any lunatic with a gun. It is the best interest of all not to let Hamas off the hook, and force it to remain in a position of responsibility. It is far more dangerous when instead of being accountable, it can go back to making apocalyptic promises on which, as an opposition, it doesn’t have to deliver.
October 1st, 2006 at 6:42 am
Arafat, a former member of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, together with some close cronies, such as Mahmoud Abbas, formed Al-Fatah in 1959. In 1969, after Ahmed Shukairy resigned, Arafat became Head of the PLO.
When Arafat and PM Rabin exchanged letters that resulted in the September 13th, 1993 signing of the DOP, Israel accepted the PLO as a negotiating partner. The PLO recognize Israel as being gullible.
In 1995, PM Rabin realized that the PLO/PA had not revoked its Covenant and so called for it to happen in the 1995 Interim Agreement.
By 1998, it still hadn’t happened so the WYE River memorandum was a reminder that it still needed doing.
To this day, neither the PLO nor Hamas recognize Israel’s right to exist. Israel, remains merely a target.
Now if I’m mistaken, please confirm when the PLO Covenant had been amended, since 1968.
Try hard!
October 1st, 2006 at 7:43 am
GMD: I don’t think my point is that the PLO or Hamas, or both would recognize Israel’s right to exist if we help along the national unity government. It was the national unity government would give less leway to the extremists. The urgent question is how to cut the levers by which those out to block partition operate. Leaving Hamas in government, and so in a position of responsibility, seems like a better choice than driving it back to the opposition.
Besides, suppose you are right, and the Fatah is no better, what then would be the logic of trying to help resurrect a Fatah controlled government?