by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 3, 2008
All Rights Reserved.

hen Hamas booted out Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority from the Gaza Strip June 15, 2007, they consolidated power and began their war with Israel. Hamas won democratic elections Jan. 26, 2006, handing Parliament control to what the State Department regards as a terrorist organization. Since then, the White House has ignored Hamas and attempted to broker a peace deal with half the Palestinian people, pretending Hamas doesn't exist. “For the time being, the negotiations are suspended because we have so many funerals,” said Fatah peace negotiator Saeb Ezrekat, siding with Hamas. Hamas' incognito leader Ismail Haniyeh learned a valuable lesson from Hezbollah Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah who battled Israel to a standoff Aug. 14, 2006. Nasrallah fired thousands of Katyusha rockets at Israel's northern border towns July 12 to Aug. 14, nearly hitting Tel Aviv.

      Israel responded, sending tanks into Lebanon for the first time since former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pulled out of the south Lebanon May 24, 2000. While Israel wreaked havoc destroying much of Lebaon's infrastructure during its 2006 month-long war, Hezbollah was a slippery enemy, buried deep inside Lebanon's civilian population. Now Hamas, also folded into Gaza's civilian population, dares Israel to re-invade Gaza. Sharon left Gaza Sept 12, 2005 after occupying the territory since the 1967 War. Unlike Lebanon, Israel knows Gaza well and might have to reoccupy the area to get rid of Hamas. Whether Abbas or Ezrekat admits it or not, an Israeli incursion would help Abbas retake Gaza for the Palestinian Authority. Hamas has rained Katyushas down on Israeil's southern city of Ashkelon, 11 miles from the Gaza border, with a population of 120,000.

      When Gazans broke through the Rafah border fence with Egypt Jan. 21, it signaled desperation on the Palestinian side. Since breaking off from the Palestinian Authority in June, Hamas created a siege mentality, refusing to cooperate with Israel on basic infrastructure issues like water and electricity. Since seizing Gaza in 1967, Israel provided basic necessities to Gazans, including permitting its workforce to hold jobs in Israel. Hamas hasn't been able to provide jobs or government relief for rank-and-file Gazans, packed into dismal refugee camps, living in sordid conditions. Instead of cooperating with Israel, Hamas has punished Gaza residents, whipping up the current war-fever, now routinely firing rockets in southern Israel. Creating a state of war helps Haniyeh hang onto power, shifting the blame to Israel. Without war, Hamas would be forced to admit failure.

      Firing Katyusha rockets into Ashkelon opens up Israel's new front, turning the conflict from ideology to guns and tanks. “This is a state of war. I know no other definition for,” said Ashkelon resident Roni Mahatzri, refusing to accept the daily missile barrage. Like Hezbollah's 2006 war, Israel has no option other than rooting out militants responsible for daily Kayusha attacks. “The fact that more than a dozen rockets have targeted the major population center of Ashkelon is a sign that the terrorists have broke through a new threshold in their war against the Israeli civilian population,” said government spokesman Mark Regev, speaking for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. After getting slammed for the Lebanon debacle, Olmert seeks to redeem himself, refusing to back down in Gaza. While criticized in the U.N. for using excessive force, Olmert won't show weakness in Gaza.

      Likes Hezbollah in southern Beirut, Hamas takes cover inside the civilian population. Israel faces the same criticism for collateral damage in Lebanon now in Gaza. Israeli Defense Forces face a daunting mission rooting out Hamas rocket launchers inside Gaza's refugee camps and population centers. “We are following the aggression against our people in Gaza,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas told the press, seeking relief inside the U.N. Security Council and European Union. Abbas plays a dangerous PR game, playing victim, while, at the same time, siding with his archenemy Hamas against the Jewish state. Abbas wants to mend fences with Hamas but hasn't been able negotiate with Haniyeh, who remains steadfast in his determination to destroy Israel. Bush sent Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Jerusalem and Ramallah to deescalate the current flare-up.

      Firing rockets into southern Israel gives Hamas the bargaining chip to win concessions against Abbas and the Palestinian Authority. Abbas can't have it both ways: ignoring Hamas when it comes to peace negotiations and, at the same time, sympathizing with Hamas' rocket war against Israel. Abbas wants “to work to stop this aggression” but won't condemn Hamas for staging a Hezbollah-like war with Israel. Abbas plays both sides against the middle, pretending to support Hamas, while, simultaneously, refusing to cede authority to Palestinians' duly elected government. Neither the U.S. nor Abbas accept Hamas, despite being Palestinians' democratically elected government. Abbas gives Israel a nod-and-a-wink to invade and see whether it can finally get rid of Hamas. As long as Hamas controls Gaza, the prospects for a comprehensive Mideast peace remains dim.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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