The government of
Israel and Hamas are once again acting like children. With the eyes of the
world looking over with disdain and some irritation, members sympathetic to or
affiliated with both parties are shouting “They started it!”[1] At
the mention of a ceasefire, representatives of both Israel and Hamas indignantly
sneer, “You stop it!” “No, you stop it!”[2]
Unlike a schoolyard fight, however, one of the participants is the western
supplied, funded, and supported government of Israel, and the other is a
choked, impoverished, and condemned Gaza Strip. Also unlike a schoolyard fight,
the cost of continued escalation between Israel and Hamas will be measured in
human lives.
There is very little
point, as far as I can tell, in detailing when the latest exchange of violence
between the Israeli army and the conglomeration of militant groups in Gaza
began. Whether it began over this past weekend or perhaps weeks earlier in
October, the enmity and hostility between the two parties has persisted for
years and the therein lies the real story, rather than the recently reached
boiling point.
Prime Minister of
Israel Benjamin Netanyahu recently gathered 50 Ambassadors in Ashkelon (within
range of rocket attacks) in order to head off any criticism of Israel’s actions
against Gaza. “We will not sit idly,” he told them, “in front of recurrent
attacks that occur almost daily, against our citizens and our children. More
than one million citizens have to live in a reality where within 15 or 30 seconds
they need to find shelter against terrorists who shoot at civilians, while the
terrorists themselves hide behind civilians… None of your governments would
accept such a situation.”[3]
This is certainly true.
Indiscriminate rocket attacks fired at civilian populations in southern Israel
are absolutely worthy of condemnation, and there is no government that would
find them tolerable. However, this is
only half the story. Any envoys that visited Gaza (however unlikely such a trip may be) might be treated to a similar
speech from Ismail Haniyeh, the former Prime
Minister of the Palestine Legislative Council (PLC).
He might tell envoys
that no country would tolerate the foreign support for the overthrow of its
democratically elected government. This is precisely what happened in 2007,
though it is still commonly referred to as a Hamas coup d'etat.[4]
Following Hamas’ electoral victory in 2006, Israel announced that it would stop
transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA).[5]
The Quartet (the United States, the United Nations, the European Union, and
Russia), rather than condemn Israel’s meddling in the democratic affairs of the
occupied territories, immediately did the same, suspending all aid previously
pledged to the PA.[6]
PA President Mahmoud Abbas and Fatah acted immediately to strip the PLC of its parliamentary powers, consolidating them under
the office of the President.[7]
Hamas representatives called this an attempted “white coup d’etat;” the red
coup d’etat was not far off.[8]
The United States moved weapons (with the assistance of the governments of
Israel and Egypt) to the Fatah spy master/thug in Gaza Mohammed Dahlan.[9]
His bloody 2007 attempt at overthrowing Hamas in Gaza was a failure, and Hamas
subsequently ousted Fatah members from the Gaza Strip (others were killed
outright) resulting in the current political bifurcation of the occupied territory.[10]
Haniyeh might tell
visiting dignitaries about the disturbing blockade that Gazans are confronted
with and have been confronted with since Israel’s 2005 “disengagement” from
Gaza that was intensified following the democratic election of Hamas in 2006
and the 2007 split between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The blockade is
specifically calculated to bring Gaza to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe
though without pushing it over. These calculations are measured down to the
amount of calories each Gazan needs to avoid starvation.[11]
Israel’s efforts to prevent such a disaster are not entirely successful however. Approximately 61% of
Gazan households remain food insecure which in no small part has resulted in
serious consequences for the next generation of Gazans.[12]
For example 15% of children in Gaza are stunted from malnutrition and 76% of
Palestinian infants are anemic.[13]
Haniyeh might tell envoys
that no country would tolerate, in Israel’s words, “economic warfare” being waged
upon their populace.[14]
Israel, in spite of the disengagement, maintains sovereignty over Gaza’s
airspace, coastal waters, and borders. It allows few exports, and no more
imports than required to prevent a famine. One Op-Ed in The Jerusalem Post
cited letters the writer had sent to Hamas leaders one which extolled them
to “focus on building rather than destroying.”[15]
If only it were so simple. During the December-January 2008-2009 Israeli
incursion into Gaza (the likes of which are being considered now[16])
Israel was indisputably focused on destruction. According to the Goldstone
Report*, Israel targeted a wide variety of
civilian infrastructure for destruction including flour mills, chicken farms,
sewage treatment facilities, and large swaths of civilian housing.[17]
This is in addition to the 1400 Gazans killed in the assault.[18]
Until June of 2010, Israel barred the entrance of concrete into Gaza so
reconstruction and repair were out of the question. Since this relaxation,
there has indeed emerged a burgeoning construction sector.[19]
However this sector still relies on the black market tunnel economy to supply
it with enough raw materials still restricted (and some barred completely) by
Israel’s blockade.
Haniyeh might exclaim
to visiting ambassadors about Israel (as Israel’s advocates would exclaim about
Hamas) that they do not abide by ceasefires, that they cannot be negotiated
with. Even now Israeli officials are making threats (threats with plans behind
them) about the possibility of another ground assault or perhaps a more
rigorous campaign of aerial bombardment while refusing to enter into
negotiations or direct talks with the Hamas government in Gaza.[20]
Hamas has indicated they would be willing to enter into negotiations and that
they would support a two state solution (though not without some
rhetorical/ideological schizophrenia).[21]
However, Israel refuses to enter into negotiations with Hamas without a
specific precondition: that Hamas recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish
state. Hamas refuses to do so explicitly. There is ample room for discussion about
either side’s willingness to negotiate and coexist, but the fact remains that
Hamas and other militant groups have signaled they are willing to resume the
previous ceasefire and it is the Israeli government that is discussing deterrence
as if it is the only option available to them.
In the context of
military occupation, historic and contemporary dispossession, admitted
“economic warfare,” continued military excursions, and general misery and
terror created in Gaza, it doesn't matter how the latest conflagration began.
This recent surge in violence is merely a symptom of an underlying condition.
Any ceasefire reached (God willing) soon will be nothing more than a temporary
remedy that will require more serious introspection about the fundamental
relationship between the government of Israel and the people that live in the
shadow of its mercy. Gaza may not be a country, but we must understand that the
people of Gaza cannot be expected to tolerate the conditions imposed upon them
by Israel: there are no other peoples among the nations from whom anyone in
their right mind would make such a demand. Moreover while both sides are responsible
in one way or another for the boisterous reactionary violence that terrorizes
Israeli citizens in Ashkelon and stateless citizens in Gaza, the status quo—unequivocally,
objectively—has been created and is sustained by decisions made and policies
carried out by the government of Israel.
[1]
“Netanyahu promises IDF will act ‘forcefully’ in response to rocket
attacks.” The Times of Israel. 11
November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-threaten-to-up-the-ante-including-targeted-killings-in-response-to-rocket-fire/
Glaser, John. “Israel’s Latest Assault on Gaza: The Lie of Who Started It.” Antiwar. 11 November 2012. Accessed 13
November 2012. http://antiwar.com/blog/2012/11/11/israels-latest-assault-on-gaza-the-lie-of-who-started-it/
[2] “Israel warns Hamas of ‘heavy
price’ for Gaza rockets.” Mail &
Guardian. 12 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://mg.co.za/article/2012-11-12-israel-warns-hamas-of-heavy-price-for-gaza-rockets.
“Israel launches fresh strikes on Gaza.” Al
Jazeera. 13 November 2012. Accessed on 13 November 2012. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/11/20121112205723641623.html
[3] Ahren, Raphael. Davidovich,
Joshua. “Your government would not tolerate a situation like this, PM tells
enoys as fire pounds south.” The Times of
Israel. 12 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.timesofisrael.com/rocket-fire-continues-to-pound-south-as-pm-defends-israels-right-to-respond/
[4] Issacharoff, Avi. “Hamas leader
lauds visiting Qatar emir for ‘breaking’ Gaza blockade.” Haaretz. 23 October 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.haaretz.com/news/middle-east/hamas-leader-lauds-visiting-qatar-emir-for-breaking-gaza-blockade-1.471765
[5] Lavie, Mark. “Hamas facing
severe tests even before it takes over Palestinian government.” The Associated Press. 29 January 2006.
[6] Knudsen,
Are. Basem, Ezbidi. "Hamas and Palestinian Statehood." Where Now
for Palestine?: the Demise of the Two-state Solution. Ed. Jamil Hilal.
(London: Zed, 2007) 188-209.
[7] Laub, Karin. “Abbas
consolidating powers to make it harder for Hamas to rule.” The Associated Press. 14 Februay 2006.
[8] Nissenbaum, Dion. “Abbas given
new powers.” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
14 February 2006.
[9] Harel,
Amos, and Avi Issacharoff. "Israeli Defense Official: Fatah Arms Transfer
Bolsters Forces of Peace." Haaretz. 28 Dec. 2006.
[10] Rose, David. “The Gaza Bomb
Shell.” Vanity Fair. 2008 April.
Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/04/gaza200804.
Leupp, Gary. “A Hamas Coup d’Etat in 2007?” Counterpunch.
6 January 2009. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.counterpunch.org/2009/01/06/a-hamas-coup-d-etat-in-2007/.
[11] Seikaly, Sherene. “Counting
calories and making lemonade in Gaza.” Egypt
Independent. 12 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.egyptindependent.com/opinion/counting-calories-and-making-lemonade-gaza
[12] Cole, Juan. “Israel’s
Strangulation of Gaza by the Numbers.” Informed
Comment. 5 November 2011. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.juancole.com/2011/11/israels-strangulation-of-gaza-by-the-numbers.html.
The link used here contains information derived from the United Nations and the
National Center for Biotechnology Information, among others. Professor Cole
provides links to these publications on his website.
[13] Ibid.
[14] Frenkel, Sheera. “Israeli
document: Gaza blockade isn’t about security.” McClatchy. 9 June 2010. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/09/95621/israeli-document-gaza-blockade.html
[15] Baskin, Gershon. “Ecountering
Peace: Message to Hamas, Israel leaders.” The
Jerusalem Post. 12 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=291533
[16] Ginsburg, Mitch. “The approach
of an unwanted war in Gaza.” The Times of
Israel. 11 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-approach-of-an-unwanted-war-in-gaza/
** While Richard Goldstone, the
former judge who headed the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza
Conflict, has since recanted some of the mission’s conclusions, the findings
detailed meticulously throughout the report have not been discredited.
Moreover, the other authors of the report disagreed with Goldstone’s
retraction.
[17] “Report of the United Nations
Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict.” United Nations Report A/HRC/12/48.
25 September 2009. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/docs/12session/A-HRC-12-48.pdf
[18] During this same time period 13
Israelis lost their lives, of which 10 were soldiers, of which 4 casualties was
the result of friendly fire.
[19] “Construction sector booms in
Gaza.” Al Jazeera. 13 July 2012.
Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2012/07/2012713112137195857.html
[20] “Netanyahu promises IDF will act
‘forcefully’ in response to rocket attacks.” The Times of Israel. 11 November 2012. Accessed 13 November 2012. http://www.timesofisrael.com/ministers-threaten-to-up-the-ante-including-targeted-killings-in-response-to-rocket-fire/
[21] Mccarthy, Rory. “We can accept
Israel as neighbor, says Hamas.” Guardian.
21 April 2008. Accessed 9 November 2012. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/21/israel.
Hass, Amira. “Haniyeh: Hamas willing to accept Palestinian state with 1967
borders.” Haaretz. 9 November 2008.
Accessed 9 November 2012. http://www.haaretz.com/news/haniyeh-hamas-willing-to-accept-palestinian-state-with-1967-borders-1.256915. Waked, Ali. “Mashaal: Hamas willing to accept
peace deal with Israel.” Yedioth Ahronot.
20 October 2010. Accessed 9 November 2012. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3972646,00.html
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