In Charles Krauthammer's latest article, "Why was there war in Gaza anyway?" Mr. Krauthammer continues his tirades against the evils of the Middle Eastern world in hopes (from my perspective) that Americans will arise out of their liberal slumber and begin to speak out against this evil. For starters the conflict between Gaza and Israel is more complicated than what Mr. Krauthammer shows. For him it is simple dichotomous thinking. Israel = Good Hamas = Evil. This issue deserve much more elaboration than what Mr. Krauthammer gives us.
Mr. Krauthammer complains that Israel withdrew from Gaza in September 2005 and basically gave the people/militants of Gaza their own state and therefore should lay down their arms and live like normal people should live. However, this is where the details are left out. Yes, Israel did unilaterally withdraw from Gaza, but Israel still "maintained control of Gaza's land borders, territorial waters and airspace. Egypt controls Gaza's southern border." This doesn't seem to me like an independent country does it? The vagueness continues.
Then Mr. Krauthammer rails against the mindless people of Gaza who in their January 2006 elections elected a majority of Hamas representatives to the Palestinian Legislative Council. Fatah, the previous leaders of the PLC, and the Palestinian head of state Mahmoud Abbas (who had Western backing) refused to accept this new reality and dissolved the unity government that was created after the parliamentary elections. This then led to the Fatah - Hamas conflict within Gaza and the subsequent purging of the Fatah militia. However, Israel and the West were not prepared for this and quickly endorsed and implemented a complete blockade of Gaza.
Life within the blockade was/is abysmal. It is compared to life within a prison by some. Unemployment was/is rampant, and most of the population is dependent of charity in order to meet basic needs. Movement is strictly limited in and out of Gaza. Shipping and Fishing is also regulated. At least according to my perspective a blockade is an "Act of War."
Add to that the other permanent Palestinian-Israeli issues of settlements in the occupied terrorities, and the international occupation status of the Palestinian people. One can at least understand, (not support), Gaza resistance to this type of handling by Israel. It isn't (as Krauthammer makes it sound like), like Israel was just minding it's own business and then out of the blue Hamas started to rain missiles down on them.
However, Krauthammer does have some legitimate points. Hamas has declared Israel an ilelgal entity, and advocates violence as a means to fix this illegitimacy. Also Hamas has routinely shot missles into Israel, even Tel Aviv, and likely would continue to stockpile weapons/missiles if any such blockade was lifted. Since Hamas believes this is the only way to "talk" with Israel. It is doubtful that Israel would ever negotiate with Hamas, and neither will Hamas negotiate with Israel. Both sides regard each other as a war combatant and want each other to just "go away."
That is the reason why the United States should not get involved in these types of squabbles. There is no U.S. interest in Israel/Gaza. Only Israel and Hamas will be able to solve this conflict. It makes matters worse when the U.S. gets involved and is basically "one-sided" on this issue. Our $3 billion/annually to Israel and our "blank check" on whatever they do is unwarranted and a prime reason for fueling Middle Eastern terrorist groups hostile to the U.S. Oil will still go to the world market regardless of what happens to the Gaza situation and the threat of terrorism may noticeably decrease. How would America lose if we would politically "disengage" from Israel?"
I advocate the policy of George Washington in his Farewell Address. "The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in
extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little
political connection as possible."
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