I posted that piece on FB and a friend posted a solid critique. I'll post that here:
Danny - I think this is as one-sided as anything on the Israeli side. It completely ignores Hamas’ role in destroying the Oslo peace process with suicide bombs in Israeli towns & driving the Israeli electorate away from negotiation and into the arms of Netenyahu and then Sharon, with all that that entailed. It ignores how Hamas blocked every subsequent attempt at peace, including Olmert’s to Abbas which went much further than Barak’s.
It ignores the fact that Hamas is as happy with the stalemate with Israel as the article claims Israel is with it, as both they and Netenyahu were able to use each other as reasons not to move things forward and maintain their grip on their respective countries.
It ignores Hamas’ connection & reliance on Iran not only for money & weapons but policy. It’s as much a proxy army for Tehran as Hezbollah is. I don’t think Hamas has ever had an interest in freeing the Palestinians beyond hurting Israel. It can never hope to wipe it out, but has also rejected any peace deal offered by Israel. They, like Netenyahu, have benefitted from the status status quo.
I agree that the current Israeli government is the most virulently Right Wing / ethnonationalist / racist the country’s history and that it has fomented conflict between settlers and the Palestinians of the West Bank. Gallant is the most dangerous man to be put in charge of Israel’s retaliation against Hamas. I agree that Israeli hubris has brought it to this place, and the divisions wrought by Netenyahu’s government have made this an optimum moment for Hamas to attack.
But equally I think this interview *approves* of armed violence in this context, forgetting that there have been opportunities for peace and a just settlement in the past which Hamas *deliberately* destroyed. In talking about the PLO it ignores Black September and the Lebanese Civil War which was triggered by the PLO effectively taking over southern Lebanon violently & using it to attack Israel. Both Lebanon and Jordan were destabilised by the PLO.
I do not agree with or condone the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza or the repeated use of violence to suppress both populations. I don’t agree with land grabs, Israeli settlements on the West Bank or settler violence against Palestinians. Equally I do not and will never agree with or condone the acts of Hamas under the spurious guise of ‘anti-colonial struggles’. Another way was always possible, unless you agree that ‘the anti-colonial struggle’ doesn’t mean a two state solution but the eradication of Israel. If that is someone’s position that someone wants a genocide.
Another way was always possible and Hamas has always blocked it. The Gazans live under two occupations: that of Israel and that of Hamas.
Danny - I think this is as one-sided as anything on the Israeli side. It completely ignores Hamas’ role in destroying the Oslo peace process with suicide bombs in Israeli towns & driving the Israeli electorate away from negotiation and into the arms of Netenyahu and then Sharon, with all that that entailed. It ignores how Hamas blocked every subsequent attempt at peace, including Olmert’s to Abbas which went much further than Barak’s.
It ignores the fact that Hamas is as happy with the stalemate with Israel as the article claims Israel is with it, as both they and Netenyahu were able to use each other as reasons not to move things forward and maintain their grip on their respective countries.
It ignores Hamas’ connection & reliance on Iran not only for money & weapons but policy. It’s as much a proxy army for Tehran as Hezbollah is. I don’t think Hamas has ever had an interest in freeing the Palestinians beyond hurting Israel. It can never hope to wipe it out, but has also rejected any peace deal offered by Israel. They, like Netenyahu, have benefitted from the status status quo.
I agree that the current Israeli government is the most virulently Right Wing / ethnonationalist / racist the country’s history and that it has fomented conflict between settlers and the Palestinians of the West Bank. Gallant is the most dangerous man to be put in charge of Israel’s retaliation against Hamas. I agree that Israeli hubris has brought it to this place, and the divisions wrought by Netenyahu’s government have made this an optimum moment for Hamas to attack.
But equally I think this interview *approves* of armed violence in this context, forgetting that there have been opportunities for peace and a just settlement in the past which Hamas *deliberately* destroyed. In talking about the PLO it ignores Black September and the Lebanese Civil War which was triggered by the PLO effectively taking over southern Lebanon violently & using it to attack Israel. Both Lebanon and Jordan were destabilised by the PLO.
I do not agree with or condone the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, the blockade of Gaza or the repeated use of violence to suppress both populations. I don’t agree with land grabs, Israeli settlements on the West Bank or settler violence against Palestinians. Equally I do not and will never agree with or condone the acts of Hamas under the spurious guise of ‘anti-colonial struggles’. Another way was always possible, unless you agree that ‘the anti-colonial struggle’ doesn’t mean a two state solution but the eradication of Israel. If that is someone’s position that someone wants a genocide.
Another way was always possible and Hamas has always blocked it. The Gazans live under two occupations: that of Israel and that of Hamas.