“Civil War” in Gaza: Hamas Wins

“Israel has become resigned to the demise of Fatah in the Gaza Strip. Officials said Israel’s military and government agree that the Jewish state should not be involved in the Fatah-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. They said foreign military aid to Fatah would not reverse Hamas gains in the Gaza Strip.” (Middle East Newsline – MENL)

“Israel has become resigned to the demise of Fatah in the Gaza Strip. Officials said Israel’s military and government agree that the Jewish state should not be involved in the Fatah-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. They said foreign military aid to Fatah would not reverse Hamas gains in the Gaza Strip.” (Middle East Newsline – MENL)

“Palestinian sources said Hamas trained for the war against Fatah for at least six months as part of a drive to become the senior member of the (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority. The sources said Hamas has been supported in its drive by Iran and Syria, which provided funding and expertise to overcome Fatah forces.” (related MENL story)

JINSA previously said it is unrealistic to expect Palestinians (Fatah) to kill other Palestinians (Hamas) on behalf of security for a State of Israel that they did not accept as legitimate. We stand by that. But it is now abundantly clear that there are Palestinians willing to kill other Palestinians in order to create a bigger and better platform for killing Jews.

Hamas was not formed to govern either in a coalition or by itself – its determination to take over the PLO was always prelude to using the organization to pursue its end game: the destruction of the State of Israel. To believe otherwise is delusional.

This is important by itself; it is more important as a principle for Israel and the United States. There are organizations – non-state actors – that have as their goal the acquisition of territory only as a means of extending a broader agenda. They are willing to beggar and kill their own people – women, children or the insufficiently enthusiastic – to achieve their ends. Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Ansar al-Islam, PIJ and groups we haven’t heard of yet are un-nationalist, but take their support from states – Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria. This understanding presents lessons:

• Don’t let them “run” for elective office. Giving them responsibility for potholes and electricity will not make them responsible.
• Don’t offer them coalition status. They don’t want a percentage.
• Don’t give them credit for social service work. Children are fodder; schools and daycare centers are ideological training grounds for future bombers.
• DO believe them when they tell you they have an agenda for which they are willing to die and willing to kill you. They aren’t engaged in retaliation for the real or perceived sins of Israel, the U.S. or the West; they are motivated by their very real belief in their supremacy and their right to rule.
• Cut off their financial and military support and punish their state sponsors. Be prepared to kill as many of them as necessary to accomplish this goal.

And don’t abandon the idea that consensual government is an absolute necessity, even in the Middle East and especially in the Middle East. Gaza is ruined because the moderate, serious, capable people fled or were killed, leaving the playing field (killing field) to the destitute and dastardly. Gaza is over. If we are supremely skillful and very lucky, there may still be time to save the West Bank – maybe in confederation with Israel and Jordan – but it is running out quickly.