Palestinian Reconciliation
That's a large subject. Palestinian reconciliation toward the existence of Israel? Would that this could be accomplished. Israel's withdrawal of its West Bank settlers might result as an impetus to move reconciliation forward. Then again, it might not, given the experience with the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli settlers from Gaza. Which gave rise not to an amicable recognition that Gazans were given the opportunity to begin to lift themselves out of dysfunctional social and political dystopia and into a realm where they could administer their affairs toward normalcy, but to violence and further mayhem.Nothing was solved, nothing has been resolved, with the Israeli settler-withdrawal from Gaza. In all fairness to the larger aspiration of both the Israelis and the Palestinians to live separate and sovereign lives as neighbours absent hostility and ongoing instances of violence, the West Bank withdrawal should be acknowledged as a necessity. Unfortunately there are no guarantees that such a painful but long-overdue withdrawal would amount to anything approaching a solution to the seemingly intractable problems facing each entity.
Well, how about reconciliation between West Bank-governing Fatah as the Palestinian Authority, and the elected-but-disreputable terror group Hamas? It's been attempted and it failed, desperately. The deadly animosity between secular Fatah and Islamist jihad-dedicated Hamas appears unappeasable. And, as long as Israel is able to bargain only with one-half of the equation, nothing of any enduring consequence toward an eventual peace agreement and the realization of a Palestinian state can be accomplished.
Truly a dilemma of perplexing proportions. Gaza has been taken prisoner by Hamas. The Strip has become Hamas's launching pad for its holy war against the presence of Israel on what it claims remains Arab land. It will not rest until it has somehow managed to wrest that land from Jewish occupation, restoring it to Arab possession. Two million Palestinians are represented by Fatah; among whom there is a goodly proportion who loathe Fatah for its incapacity and legendary corruption, secretly cleaving to Hamas.
One and a half million Palestinians live under the occupation and strictures imposed upon them by Islamist Hamas. Given Hamas's most recent demonstration to Gazans of precisely how vital it is to them to protect the interests of civilian Palestinians by inviting the Israeli military into Gaza through constant violent provocations, it is entirely likely that Gazans, already dispirited and penurious as a result of the economic blockade, would as soon see Hamas depart, which it will not voluntarily or involuntarily proceed to do.
And even while Mahmoud Abbas through his aides accuses Hamas of killing, arresting and torturing Fatah fighters in Gaza, along with refusing to consider the matter of reconciliation between the warring factions, Fatah still clings to the hope that they may once again attempt to co-administer the Palestinian Authority. Fatah claims that 19 Palestinians were murdered by Hamas, with over 60 others having been knee-capped, many more placed under house arrest. Hamas claims they had arrested "collaborators", during and after the Israeli incursion.
Still, Fatah is willing to form a national unity government, alongside Hamas. The "moderate" Fatah and the "immoderate" Hamas appear to have little in common other than each considering Israel the "occupier", and their "enemy", current and ongoing talks with Israel notwithstanding, on the part of Fatah. And the spectre of renewed fighting between Hamas and Israel, further distancing any opportunities for a potential peace agreement, is nigh on the horizon.
All the more so, since Israel's aim, in bombing and entering Gaza was to disarm, disrupt, dismay Hamas, and to destroy the hundreds of smuggling tunnels whereby arms, munitions and rockets have been spirited into the Strip. Clearly, its first aim, despite the carnage and the many deaths, has not been truly realized. Nor has its second, since reports from the Egyptian border claim Palestinian smugglers have lost no time in rebuilding the tunnels.
And while Egypt, which earnestly and honourably applies great diplomatic efforts in attempting to breach the defensive walls between the antagonists, appeals to Israel to re-open border crossings, it will not itself be bound by any agreement to clamp down on arms smuggling, such as has been agreed upon between Israel and the United States.
A puzzle within a conundrum, in a labyrinth of deadly deception and viral violence.
Labels: Israel, Middle East, Troublespots
posted by Pieface @ Friday, January 23, 2009
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