Hi, welcome to I/P the land of "Extremist Paradise". In an effort to outdo each other both Israeli and Palestinian Extremists seem bent on setting the stage for endless conflict.
The other night Israeli extremists (who I do have to say are tolerated by the current coalition government in Israel) decided to raid an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) base and trash it while also tossing rocks at the Base Commander.
Today, the party who won the last Palestinian election and will be a major part of the Unity Government of the Palestinian Polity also went off the rails at a mass rally and ratcheted up the rhetoric against the existence of Israel by a factor of "100"... Follow me.
First off there was this from Israeli Extremists in the West Bank...
On Tuesday, dozens of right-wing activists infiltrated an IDF base in the West Bank, with others assaulting the vehicle of a top military officer, who escaped with minor injuries.
Additionally extremist settlers tossed rocks at Palestinian cars (something that had it happened on the Palestinian side would have illicited a swift response from Soldiers and would have involved tear gas and other crowd dispersal measures). These extremists also carried out "Price Tag" attacks in Jerusalem where they burnt a mosque of historical significance and graffitied it with anti-Islamic sayings. Further, extremists burned two cars and a truck in the Palestinian village of Duma.
The Israeli Government has responded with harsh steps and will be trying those caught in the act of raiding as rioters in a Military Court..
Netanyahu approved issuing administrative detention orders for the Jewish extremists, as is usually done with Palestinians suspected of being a security risk. Moreover, the prime minister approved trying the Jewish activists in military courts, which would effectively expedite their sentencing and make their punishment more severe.
Netanyahu also gave IDF soldiers the authority to carry out arrests in the West Bank and to increase the number of activists from the extreme right that could be removed from the West Bank.
In addition, Israel will expand Shin Bet and Israel Police investigation teams, and the State Prosecution and the IDF will receive more resources for investigations.
This said... the Israeli government STILL will not call these extremists terrorists though that is exactly what they are. Had Palestinians done this the government crackdown would be severe and swift. So far it is only being met with speeches and handled far differently. Still, if the government will really carry out these steps, it is a step in the right direction.
One can make the argument though that the Government is involved in this process to the degree that it is far more lax on extremists in the YESHA movement and through some of it's actions, proclamations and they would be correct. The Coalition seems to have no clear direction in it's movements and swings between demands put on them from the Quartet and their own internal forces.
Not to be outdone by the Israelis the Palestinian Polity has decided to offer it's own set of extremists known as Hamas. Now, Hamas won the last Palestinian election that there was and is now being asked back into a Unity Government with Fatah. Today Hamas held a rally in Gaza City with Tens of Thousands of supporters celebrating the movements 24th anniversary.
Hamas commemorated the anniversary under the slogan: "Free people living up to their promises: Oh Jerusalem, we are coming."
and despite what some say that Hamas will recognize Israel (citing two year old comments indicating the possible implication), Ismail Haniyeh the leader of Hamas addressed the crowd with this:
"Resistance is the way and it is the strategic choice to liberate Palestine from the (Jordan) river to the (Mediterranean) sea and to remove the invaders from the blessed land of Palestine," Haniyeh told the crowd, which chanted: "We will never recognize Israel."....
......"Hamas, together with other stubborn resistance factions, will lead the people towards uprising after uprising until all of Palestine is liberated," Haniyeh said, referring to territory that includes the occupied West Bank and what is now Israel.
Here is a neat little photo of the rally:
From: http://www.maannews.net/...
Now Hamas is being invited (as it should be - they did win the last Palestinian election after all) to join the "Unity government" and they do rule in the Gaza Strip. The U.S., Israel, and E.U. have all balked at their inclusion and have stated that they do little for the future of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Anyhow, sadly it seems that extremists on both sides are setting the agenda and that agenda is an agenda of war. So... what can we do about it?
Given the importance of the Middle East to U.S. interests, it is important that the U.S. act as a broker to get Peace done. In my opinion, President Obama is right here as he trying to get both sides to the table to halt this slide into chaos and destruction. We (the U.S.) have a deep friendship with the Israelis. We should continue this and while encouraging them that territorial compromise is the only way to really solve this issue, we need to also reassure them that their security needs will be met At the same time we should support those Palestinian leaders and individuals that will make peace with the Israelis and support that peace by recognizing the nature of Israel and their permanent residence in the region. Isolationism will only serve radical extremists both secular and non-secular in the area.
Ultimately though the Israelis and Palestinians need to want Peace for themselves and until their leaders step up and do that, peace is a pipe dream.
Please discuss.