CNN has the headline story Russia: Peace process needs Hamas that discusses Russia's feeling that Hamas should be brought to the table. In this article it's stated:
Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Andrei Denisov, told the Russian daily Izvestia earlier this week that cutting off international aid to the Palestinians would be "counterproductive."
"In history there are many examples of radicals coming to power and adopting a more realistic and constructive stance," Denisov was quoted as saying. "We all hope that Hamas will show sense."
The US has already threatened to cut off aid to Palestine and has been placing pressure on European nations to cut off aid as well. Europe provides more financial support to Palestine than the US does. A large amount Palestinian Authority's $1.6 billion annual budget comes from foreign donors. The United States gave $403 million for various Palestinian projects last year.
In reading todays Haaretz Israel is considering taking steps of it's own to cut off financial aid to Palestine and to restrict Hamas as well:
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert approved on Friday the defense establishment's advice to begin taking punitive steps against the Palestinian Authority as of Sunday, the day after the Hamas-led Palestinian parliament takes office. The suggested measures include freezing further transfers of the tax revenues that Israel collects on behalf of the PA and banning the entry of workers from the Gaza Strip into Israel.
The government will decide whether to approve the plan on Sunday.
Israel decided on Friday to block Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament from traveling from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank for Saturday's swearing-in ceremony, Israel Radio reported. The ceremony will instead be conducted via video conference.
Other steps the defense establishment advocates include banning the movement of Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank; preventing transfers of military equipment to the PA from foreign countries, such as donations of armored personnel carriers and communications gear; and freezing plans to upgrade the crossing points between the territories and Israel as well as plans to build a port and airport in Gaza.
MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz-Yahad) objected to the restrictive measures Friday, calling them "collective punishment."
Why this is important to point out is these types of stories don't get alot of coverage in the US media. Ones like the Russian's offering to meet with Hamas does, with a slightly negative tone. Here we want other countries to get involved in the peace process but not Russia. Yes, it is hypocritical of Russia to be concerned about Hamas being treated fairly yet at the same time demand no one assist Chechens. I'm sure the Russian plans to sell military equipment is a part of their "interest". Realistically though almost all nations that "help" have some agenda financial or otherwise.
That said, Israel's plans which are being viewed as punishment even by some in the Israeli government is not going to help this situation. It is going to increase the need for Hamas to take a stand against Israel. This also points out part of the whole frustration in Palestine that helped create the Hamas win in the first place. Israel controls Palestine, so even a newly elected democratic government really has no ability to function unless Israel allows them too. One of the very reasons Hamas was so appealing was it's refusal to submit to Israel, so I believe actions like Israel is taking are destined to create violence. Yet, when the violence happens, many will forget what steps led up to this. While this does not excuse Palestine from their actions, there also has to be some responsibility on the part of Israel to stop the humanitarian destruction that has been allowed to happen in Palestine.
Take the fact that Israel believes Hamas is asking Iran for funding and advice on how to run the Palestine Authority at face value for just a moment. Israel is threatening to cut off their funding and make living conditions even more difficult as well as restricting Palestianian ability to travel. The US is lobbying foreign nations that provide a large portion of their funding to stop assisting them, it's been made very clear that a Hamas led government is not going to get much support or assistance. And there is suprise they turned to Iran?
An editiorial in the Washington Post entitled "In the Mideast, the Third Way Is a Myth"; discusses some of the problems with the US concept of democracy building in the middle east and the recent Palestinian elections. It's a very well written article, and the ending paragraph especially is one I agree with:
Despite all its troubles, the United States remains the most powerful country, still powerful enough to reshuffle the deck in the Middle East. But it will never be powerful enough to determine where the cards fall.
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19 comments:
Strong arming North Korea and Iran has worked pretty well. We froced them into a corner where their only options were to cower to us or build nuclear weapons as a defense. We gave them both the reason to raise the ante and so far, they have called our bluff
Here's an article you might be interested in (if you haven't seen it yet, you're a much better news-hound than I am). My concern is that the threats Israel has made will conflict heavily with this statement from Hamas:
"Hamas has given no indication it will change its ideology, but has said it would stick to a long-term cease-fire if Israel reciprocates."
--emphasis added
I think all bets are off if Israel does this and that your assessment that violence will resort is quite accurate.
I think Khaled Mashaal made a good point:
"You can be sure that our feeling is peace and hope, good for all people in the world, but not any side that occupies our land or makes aggression on our people," said Mashaal. "No peace without our legitimate rights. No stability with occupation. No peace with occupation. This is our right."
Let's hope that Israel gets the hint and that he means it. It seems so simple to just give them the split, but alas, I realize it's not.
In an entirely rhetorical way...
You'd think they could have/should have learned something from IRA vs. England. There is such a thing as a win-win situation in this if they'd just let it happen.
I think the problem is that there are segments of both populations that see the other as subhuman over there. Rational minds could overcome this, but they would basically have to destroy that minority to keep peace
me4,
"I think the problem is that there are segments of both populations that see the other as subhuman over there."
Yeah, but the governments involved should know better and act appropriately, instead of pandering to that segment of their population.
Lisa - Your post is thoughtful with good observations and sourcing. However, and I accept that this is an incredibly personal topic for me, I also think it's important to understand some of the history between how these two populations ended up in the lands they now occupy. That is to say, it's not as though the Palestinians were picked up and plopped there. The neighboring Muslim and Arab communities that could have assisted in the 1940s and before (when Britain was in power there) were useless.
Please, I am NOT justifying the Israel behavior. I occupy a strange place - I love Israel, but I'm not a Zionist. I imagine they feel like white South Africa before apartheid was dismantled, but I wish to God that Israelis could see their country following a similar path.
The obstacle to that path continues to be the population of Palestinians that Hamas now represents and that wants to see Israel destroyed.
Lisa, they must give up that desire. What if Mexico or Canada felt that way about us - or the Native Americans, who may very well feel that way about other Americans?
Again - I am NOT and I do not want to be read here as either not understanding or being sympathetic toward the implorable condition in which many if not most Palestinians live. But to sweep a government in on the basis of wanting another entire population annihilated? That can't be okay either.
For the record, I've never supported the settlements and was happy to see them dismantled and I am a firm opponent to the wall that continues to be constructed.
Jill, I understand we have a different background coming to this particular topic. It is one I have researched historically because of my interest in this issue which grew from knowing several who have come from Palestine and Israel.
My position on Israel is different. I am not anti-Israel, I thought Arafat and his government caused just as much hardship for the average Palestinian as some of what Israel decreed. I hoped when Arafat died that some of the corruption would die with him. I think it is horrible that while the Arab nations are so quick to point out injustices that are happening to Palestine they do nothing. The majority of financial support for Palestine does not come from those arab nations, some of who could help. Further the fact that all of these years later Palestinians are living in refugee camps rather than being allowed to be citizens of the countries some of them have been born in. As to the wall, I understand with the way this whole mess was created with Palestine having two separate areas within Israel something has to be done. Israel has a right to protect herself, I just don't agree that all of her actions have been based on self-protection. My major complaint with the wall is that it does not follow the green line and that many Palestinian farmers have been crushed thru this. Olive trees that were hundreds of years old, fruit tree farms, and on and on. I'd be more than happy for Israel to build it's wall on the green line if it meant that it gave them the security they needed to stop some of this.
My concern has and always has been with the people. I understand why Hamas was elected. I don't support the violence as I know it doesn't work. However I do know that continuing to force these people to be starved, and denied basic rights such as access to emergency medical care is not right. Part of the reason Israel is hated is because of actions just like this. The other part is of course a pr mechanism "Oh look at how Israel treats our brothers". Never any mention of how those countries treat their same "brothers" but it takes the focus off of them and makes people concentrate on Israel. Iran is a perfect example of that. Make the focus be how they have to "eliminate" Israel and blame Israel for all that is bad in the middle east and it removes some of the focus from their own government.
No one is looking out for the actual people of Palestine, Hamas made continued promises that they would. Now? They have to deliver. Demanding that they recognize Israel's right to exist or they will be punished gives them the exact out they need to be able to tell the people of Palestine that they meant their promises but Israel and the US prevented them from doing so. We should not be giving them the excuse they need to fail. We should be allowing them to either stand up and realize that peace is the only way or have them fail on their own in a manner where they have to take responsibility.
I could go on and on, as to the historical reasons and how the British are responsible for the way this whole situation started, as well as Jordan and quite a few others before the US even became involved. The very way Balfour was written was destined for failure. Or about the greed of the French and the English who split up their "spoils of war" and selected such a small area to begin with for the Jewish homeland. Or the Turks for being stupid enough to even enter the war. This can't be undone, but it does show that I understand Israel's goal is to try to survive, I just don't agree with what has been done to those of Palestine in the process.
(That's about as short of a summary on my position as I can come up with without writing you a huge novel)
:-)
Hey! There is almost definitely more money in the novel, Lisa - or how about a good nonfiction tome, seriously?
I think you've laid it out very well. I agree with pretty much each perspective you describe. Which is probably why it's so difficult for any one perspective to win out.
Thanks for taking the time.
I have written a few books and actually self-published one on Ohio History and my journey thru it to find out information about my Father's family after he died.
As per usual with me, what I started out trying to find out wasn't what I ended up discovering.
I respect you Jill, and I felt since this was the first time you and I have discussed this topic that I give you some background on my feelings. Especially since so many people look at this issue as black and white. As you know, it's shades of gray, which makes it harder to deal with.
I'll also add, which I have a feeling you've figured out, I have a support the underdog type personality. So while I support the concept of Israel trying to survive given they are such a small nation, I also am naturally drawn to support those who are suffering the most.
Part of my previous rebel nature that still comes out at times. Though those that know me know how much I've mellowed thru the years a part of me will always have this mantra:
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
You won't hear me argue with that mantra. But you might here me utter it - or least graft it onto my blog. :)
(Lisa adds one more thing to the list of what she and Jill have in common)
:-)
Lisa - I apologize if I've mentioned this blog before, but have you ever read In Context? It's excellent and has excellent links to other Jewish/Middle East blogs. She is hawkish overall, far further in the pro-Israel direction than me, but she writes very well and has excellent sources, me thinks. Anyway - if you give it a try, let me know what you think! I do NOT agree with everything she writes and in fact that's how I've gotten to know the blogger on a more personal basis, through some emails saying, what in the world are you talking about? She's very clear and forthcoming, even when I don't agree. I appreciate knowing other perspectives.
Me4, great first comment...
I don't think strong arming Hamas will work. I don't understand the conflict that well. However, it is easy to see why it is there (even aside from the religious difference ordeal). Israel was carved out in the area after WWII out of guilt by the West for ignoring the Holocaust until it was too late. Lots of funding were channeled to it thereafter, leading to the country we have today. Not that any of this is particularly bad. The problem was that the Palestinians were neglected (by everybody, Arab governments weren't particularly helpful or welcoming to the Palestinians).
Arabs, Jews, and Christians lived in that area in peace for a long time in the Dark and Middle Ages under Arab rule. The difference was that there wasn't the strong economic difference that is present there today. If there was a Palestine with a working economy, jobs, and future, a lot less people would be invested in destroying Israel. Up to now, it seems that only Hamas has actually been interested in building an infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank and providing people with support and social programs. That's partly why they won. The PLO were busier lining their pockets than with actually doing things for their people.
I could be completely wrong, but hey, it's not like anything else has worked either.
Poor George, his lack of historical knowledge has led to his having to eat his own words. The guy fails to understand that 'democracy' is a force from the bottom up rather than from the top down.
Poor us.
Could it be this simple?
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