June 14, 2007

Every Thorn Has a Rose

rosethorn.jpg gazaworse.jpg

A friend in Israel notes that, during the previous week, whenever the television news would announce a possible ceasefire between the Palestinian factions of Hamas and Fatah, her husband would shout towards the television, "No! No! Don't do it!"

True to their schools of bloodlust, they didn't. And in victory finished off what enemies they could in classic Palestinian style, forced surrender followed summary execution in the streets, in front of the fighters' wives, mothers, and children whenever possible. No Gitmo for these combatants.

The same friend also notes that rooting for the fighting to continue in Gaza is one of the secret or not-so-secret joys of being an Israeli this June. Rush Limbaugh in one of his waggish moments this morning noted that global diplomats relished the civil war because it would bring about a need for a three-state solution.

Israeli defense officials were not quite so jovial in public, but did note that one of the future benefits of the "triumph" of Hamas in Gaza and elsewhere would be a target-rich environment.

Yakov Katz, writing in the Jerusalem Post, wisely notes:

"From a military perspective, some defense officials actually said there was reason to be thankful for Hamas's takeover of the Strip. Before the recent round of intra-Palestinian violence, Israel had to distinguish between Fatah and Hamas gunmen in Gaza and make sure that that the former, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's loyalists, were not targeted. Now, according to this view, there is no longer any need to draw such distinctions, since all gunmen are Hamas and therefore fair game." -- Jerusalem Post

Fair game indeed and one hopes there will be some followup. But with or without Israel, the Palestinians will go on killing each other in increasing numbers. Why? Because its what they do. After 60 years of hate, it is all they know. Killing is their destiny. It might seem strange that the only "entity" that can now save the Palestinian people from themselves is the "Zionist Entity," but "that's the fact, Jack." Given the triumphant announcement that the moment of Islamic Rule had finally arrived in Gaza, it is just going to be one fresh hell one day after another for any innocent people trapped there.

As the prescient Caroline Glick wrote in a memorable essay in the Jerusalem Post last January,

"As statesmen and activists worldwide loudly proclaim their commitment to establishing the sovereign State of Palestine, they miss the fact that Palestine exists. And it is a nightmare.

In the State of Palestine 88 percent of the public feels insecure. Perhaps the other 12 percent are members of the multitude of regular and irregular militias. For in the State of Palestine the ratio of police/militiamen/men-under-arms to civilians is higher than in any other country on earth.

In the State of Palestine, two-year-olds are killed and no one cares. Children are woken up in the middle of the night and murdered in front of their parents. Worshipers in mosques are gunned down by terrorists who attend competing mosques. And no one cares. No international human rights groups publish reports calling for an end to the slaughter. No UN body condemns anyone or sends a fact-finding mission to investigate the murders.

In the State of Palestine, women are stripped naked and forced to march in the streets to humiliate their husbands. Ambulances are stopped on the way to hospitals and wounded are shot in cold blood. Terrorists enter operating rooms in hospitals and unplug patients from life-support machines.

And that's the way it is in Gaza today, much worse than yesterday, and about to go deeper into the darkness.

As I said, only Israel can now help the Palestinian people, or at least the innocents abroad among them. But will they? Doubtful. The Palestinian People wanted a state and now they've got it. And why should the Israelis intervene? In a very real sense, what's in it for them?

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Posted by Vanderleun at June 14, 2007 5:37 PM | TrackBack
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AMERICAN DIGEST HOME
"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

The Israelis would be fools to lift a finger for the Palestinians. After 40+ years of hatred, terrorism, and genocidal rhetoric from the Palestinians, why on earth should they?

I'm of the opinion that wars have to be fought to the bitter end in order for there to be any chance of lasting peace. The losers need to know in no uncertain terms that they have lost (See the American Civil War and World War II). Negotiated settlements and half-measures only leave resentments festering, to flare up again in the future (See World War I, Korea, and Gulf War I and II).

Posted by: rickl at June 14, 2007 7:20 PM

Five years ago, Middle Eastern extremists were killing Israelis and Americans. Today they are killing each other. Why is it that some people persist in claiming that Israel's and America's Middle East policy is a failure?

Posted by: Alan Chamberlain at June 14, 2007 9:03 PM

"The Palestinian People wanted a state and now they've got it."

And what a wonderful job they have done making a future for themselves! Sorry, but after a time you cannot care about those who choose darkness. At least I cannot.

a la "War Games" (The Movie) ... Remember that? And WOPR says, '...sometimes the only winning move is not to play...' or something similar. I am coming to the belief that the only winning move in Iraq and other places like Gaza is not to play. Draw back, secure the borders and watch the denizens of darkness do their best or worst.

The Hobo

Posted by: Robohobo at June 14, 2007 9:09 PM

"To know what a person believes, observe what they do, rather than what they say."
--- paraphrasing Nisargadatta Maharaj

Posted by: Famously Unknown at June 15, 2007 10:03 AM

If Gaza is isolated and left to rot, Iran will have to show its hand by helping them, or else take the chance of one of its acolytes wiping itself out; that is what the Israelis should have, but couldn't do against Hezbollah; and Iran won. This time make sure that Hamas, and Iran, lose!
Give them water, by all means, but give them fire too if they misbehave!

Posted by: elixelx at June 17, 2007 4:51 AM

The only way Israel could stop Hamas and Fatah from killing each other, is to refocus the Palestinians as a whole, back on killing Israelis.
No thanks.

Posted by: papertiger at June 23, 2007 12:35 AM
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