Dear Kossacks,
What suggestions and other reactions do you have to Hamas' victory in the most recent Palestinian elections? I have worked for a while now as a member of Tikkun (www.tikkun.org) to support a two-state solution along the lines of the Geneva Accord. But I am now fearful that a truly mutual peace process--one that honors the pain and legitimate aspirations of both peoples--which already had a thready pulse for some time, is in danger of coma or death. But I'd like to hear your analysis of the situation.
As for where I stand currently, I'm still trying to figure that out. Others have noted that Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat could have been considered terrorists as well, and they managed to make peace. But given the dynamics currently driving the region, I have to admit some skepticism about a similar shift playing out. By the dynamics, I mean, briefly:
- the growing influence of Hamas, a result of their relative lack of corruption, their care for the poor and other charitable works, their perverse and immoral but to many attractive response to the indignities and sufferings endured by the Palestinians under the Occupation. Of course, it's possible that Hamas will now adopt a more moderate line, now that they actually have to govern. And I don't at all believe that everyone who voted for them buys into their rejectionist view of Israel and taste for suicide/homicide bombing. For this reason, if they don't deliver on the economic front, they may be voted out, assuming they allow fair elections. Still, as an American, a Jew, and a citizen of the world, I can't but be deeply troubled by the ascension of a radical, Islamist group with ties to Iran, Syria, and other thoroughly disgusting regimes.
- Israeli intransigence. While I do not mean to negate the Palestinians' responsibility for their own electoral decisions, Hamas was certainly helped by the Sharon-Labor governments frequent and repeated undercutting of Abbas. I refer to the continued building of settlements, the construction of the Wall, the persistence of checkpoints, and the unilateralism of the Gaza pull-out, among others. With Hamas now in power, the rightwing will be emboldened, the hopes for Peretz in Labour are dimmed, and the unilateralism of Kadima may be the best we can hope for. Of course, that one-sided withdrawal will not at all guarantee piece. As long as Israel refuses to recognize the need for a viable Palestinian state and the need to actually talk with the Palestinians, it's hard to imagine anything more than a cold war that erupts frequently into shooting. Of course, I understand Israel's need for security and I sympathize with their deep anxiety on this issue. But real security will come only through real negotiations, and what really threatens Israel's existence is not the armies of the Arab world but the festering of resentment and the dragging on of an Occupation that may give a desperate group the opportunity and the resources to set off a nuclear bomb in Tel Aviv or spread anthrax in Haifa.
- American disengagement or outright stupidity: What more is there to say here? I have often fantasized if, directly after 9/11, King George had declared: "The one issue that our enemies have used most effectively against us is the suffering of the Palestinians (even if they prefer to prolong that suffering for propaganda reasons). So, with the sympathy of the world on our side, I'm going to insist that Israel and Palestine take real steps toward peace." I don't mean that we also shouldn't have struck back in Afghanistan, but think how different things would be if W. and his henchmen had pursued peace in Israel-Palestine rather than a trumped-up and immoral war in Iraq. Sigh. But that's not where we are at. The Hamas victory lends strength to the hawks in every nation, especially this one. I'll keep trying to lobby Congress to approach things more sensibly and to counter all of the Christian Zionists, AIPAC, and those who assume that they'll lose Jewish votes if they take a more even-handed approach.
No doubt this is a simplification of things, but I think it's basically correct.
But, as you can tell, I'm pretty depressed right now. I'm not looking for you all to coddle me back into optimism (though I'd be happy for substantial reasons for a sunnier view). I'm interested to know what you think.
Steve Newman
Philadelphia