generalspeaking

The Palestinian Communion

There has never been any love lost between Hamas and Fatah. One, the outright jihadist army dedicated to the destruction of Israel, right, front and centre. The other the 'moderate' representatives of the Palestinian people, quietly hoping for the disintegration of Israel through furtively 'diplomatic' means, while still encouraging their militant wings to attack and wear down the Israeli resolve to protect itself.

Their methods are not all that dissimilar, although one is secular, the other not. Fatah uses stealth, and wears a public face of accommodation and co-operation with Israel. Hamas celebrates its strength of commitment to the cause of destroying the presence of a Jewish state in the Middle East by arming itself for that purpose and attacking where and when it can, biding time.

Their brief coalition in the Palestinian Authority, after a 'democratic' vote brought Hamas, a distinct and deliberate jihadist 'terror' group funded by Israel's current arch-enemy Iran into power, was not able to sustain itself, the two turning against one another in violent, deadly clashes. Even while the Israel Defence Army engaged with Hamas in Gaza, the militants were busy killing members of Fatah.

Hamas 'security forces' seek out collaborators from among the Palestinians, those whom they suspect and charge with abetting the State of Israel, for swift execution. Maiming their Palestinian counterparts in Fatah by shooting them in the legs and breaking legs and arms is commonplace. Victims and witnesses to these attacks by Hamas upon Fatah members have been reported to Human Rights Watch.

Palestinian human rights groups attest to their occurrences, and take note of Hamas security forces torturing those whom they apprehend. Yet, in the final analysis, they will find the opportunity to gird themselves against their mutual hostility to face a larger enemy. And when they do, they will move with some semblance of co-operation to launch another, deadlier intifada against Israel.

While at the same time accusing Israel of brutal occupation, of delimiting the lives and aspirations of the Palestinians, of barbarous human rights infractions. Accusations which much of the world has great sympathy with. Palestinians, in fact, do not actually appear to want to acquire a country of their own, alongside that of Israel. They quite simply cannot visualize themselves living side by side with a Jewish state.

They can visualize, and fervently look toward the day when Israel dissolves, unable to continue blocking assaults against itself, and when the territory they claim to be rightfully theirs can be re-claimed, and in triumph they may finally constitute a state, a country, a nation of their own, so long denied them by their previous oppressors, Egypt and Jordan.

And Israel? Its disintegration will furnish the occasion for huge celebratory parties, dancing in the streets, gun-pumping into the atmosphere, handing out sweets to children taught to fear and hate the Jews. (Before the Hamas and the Fatah factions turn their deadly assaults upon one another again, for the final paroxysm of fratricidal warfare.)

This, in any event, is their hope. Israel has other plans.

Labels: Anti-Semitism, Human Relations, Israel, Middle East

posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, April 21, 2009