Where They Stand
So Hamas, that powerfully Islamic-centric ideological entity has taken Gaza. Pity it isn't a strip of land sans needful Palestinians. Who will, as ever, bear the unfortunate brunt of all this clan-activated, juiced-up free-for-all in one-upsmanship. Hamas's Haniyeh and his supporters claim that Mahmoud Abbas staged a coup, and that's pretty amusing. Who couped whom, after all? On the other hand, while all the looting and targeting and murder was proceeding, Hamas throughout claimed their militias were under their direct control.Personally, if I were a leader, I'd hate to admit to that, since that would make me culpable in the exercise of truly bestial conduct, where no behaviours, however hard to digest for the unlucky onlooker was off the books. Certainly none of what happened was predicated on the civilized behaviour of a determined political group certain of the need to persuade a population that they have the political maturity and social conscience that will speak to their fundamental needs as a society.
This was a mini revolution, where the power of one group devolved to the other. If the 'other' displayed any modicum of restraint in this power struggle they would surely be in the position to declare to those whom they plan to rule, that their best interests compelled this course of action. The Palestinian Gazans who were privy by their proximity in the area to the singling out of Fatah supporters and their summary executions before their horrified families, to the looting and incendiary celebrations now know that the anarchy they've been living with, added to the newly-imposed civil strictures are but a taste of their future.
Egypt and Jordan appear to back Fatah unequivocally as their choice for the future of the Palestinian Territories. Which may now be singular in nature, with Hamas setting up on their border as a terrifyingly Islamist state. Saudi Arabia appears unsettlingly piqued that all their hard work of foisting some responsibility to reach an accord has come to naught, and blames both factions, while still favouring Fatah.
And we have words of wisdom from whom? Moammar Ghaddafi, no less, who espouses the view that Palestinians and they only must make the ultimate determination of which faction will rule them. As though Gazans can group bravely together at this point, those who don't support Hamas, and ask them politely to leave. Just when Hamas militia are still busily hunting down Fatah supporters.
But then Ghadaffi reminded the other Arab states that "The Palestinian issue has to be left to the Palestinians to deal with. Arabs have to stay away from the problem. What have Arabs done for the Palestinians? They have only exploited the issue for their own interests", he is reported to have told Al Jazeera television. That's me, with my mouth agape.
That's one kind of diplomacy and recognition of past motivations and the results thereof. Then there is the International Quartet of mediators who have and continue to pledge their support for Mr. Abbas. And the expression of worry about the plight of the Gazan Palestinians, since the strictures under which they have long lived and which have deteriorated in the past year, will continue to plunge them further into misery.
Israel will now release the customs taxes it has withheld from the PA, while the European Union, the U.S. and other supporters will open up the flow of dollars again. And President Abbas and his new Prime Minister will be enabled to begin taking the baby steps necessary to mature and usefully advance stabilization of the Palestinian Authority and the condition of its people. On the road to which they will also begin the long-overdue process of peace talks with their neighbour.
And Gaza and Hamas will continue to fester and to become everyone's nightmare.
Labels: Middle East, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, June 17, 2007
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