[WCUSP] Fw: Fatah-Hamas Guide for the Perplexed - A View from Israel

[Libby or Mort Frank]

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Subject: Fatah-Hamas Guide for the Perplexed - A View from Israel


> Guide to the Perplexed for Friends in the International
> Peace Movement
>
> by Reuven Kaminer
> (submitted by the author to portside)
>
> July 10, 2007, Jerusalem
>
> Question:  I see myself as a friend of the Palestinian
> cause.  However, in the current situation I am asked to
> take sides in an internal struggle, a step which I have
> no inclination to take. It appears that I, and many
> like me, simply have no alternative but to switch our
> attention and our efforts to other important matters
> until the Palestinians sort themselves out - hopefully
> in the near future.
>
> Answer: You may have observed, and this no accident,
> that there are fewer and fewer struggles for peace and
> democracy which exist outside the vortex of resistance
> to the policies of Bush and the US administration. The
> chief struggle today is, of course to condemn and
> resist the US war in Iraq.  But Washington pursues its
> interests all over the globe and has a hand in almost
> every local conflict.
>
> It is axiomatic that all serious battles for authentic
> national independence and for peace run up against the
> structures of US political, economic and military
> presence. The principle of opposition to US policy is
> also a tremendous tool for political orientation and
> there is no matter, however seemingly local and
> disconnected from the international scene, which is not
> subject to this methodological approach. The same
> thought could and should be articulated in a simpler
> and more direct rule.
>
> In any local struggle we should be aligned with the
> forces fighting US domination.  If you find yourself,
> even momentarily lined up in support of US policy,
> start clarifying things to extricate yourself from the
> unworthy alliance you have entered and the sooner the
> better. It is my experience that most genuine liberals
> and democrats understand this common sense rule while
> there are too many instances where some "leftist"
> groups in the region  remain aligned with local
> elements which slip, slide  and fade into cooperation
> with the goals of US policy.  Our advice is never, but
> never line up with Bush. When he is no longer holding
> sway in DC, we will review our current attitude on
> this.
>
> Q: Are you supporting Hamas, an Islamic fundamentalist
> formation?
>
> A: It is an old trick to accuse advocates of peace and
> political realism of supporting regimes, which are held
> in low public esteem, when we try to explain that
> embargo, sanctions, economic isolation, etc. are the
> wrong way to go. The idea is to prove that we are
> incompetent and irresponsible politically because we
> refuse to join the chorus of condemnation against "the
> terrorist enemy." But, this kind of character
> defamation will not discourage any real fighter for
> peace.
>
> In any event, there are also many sincere friends of
> peace who ask us why we support Hamas. We do not
> support Hamas. We support accord and compromise between
> the two main factions of Palestinian society as the
> only path to prevent a major human tragedy whose scope
> cannot be envisaged. In truth, most secular democrats
> are appalled at Hamas’ values and justly so. Even so,
> we are against Bush’s style of demonization. We will
> engage in a comprehensive analysis of the strength of
> Islamic fundamentalism. And we will utilize every
> opportunity to draw Hamas into a constructive dialogue
> instead of doing everything to convert each and every
> Islamic fundamentalist group into just another arm of
> Al-Qaeda. It is important to stress that each
> fundamentalist tendency has its own history, traditions
> and political goals. Bush and his local partners can
> indeed push Hamas into more radical positions and
> alliances. If you are out to destroy someone, you might
> well take into account that he (or she) will take
> counsel and seek help according to one rule only - his
> or her interest in survival.
>
> It is important to stress that many impartial observers
> argue that Hamas can be seen as one of the more
> pragmatic Islamic groups. It is known that Al-Qaeda
> attacked it for participating in elections.  It never
> opposed the all- Arab peace initiative on peace with
> Israel. It has rigorously observed cease fire
> agreements. Its historical and regional connections are
> with the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, known for its
> abstention from and rejection of terrorist activity.
> Between idealization of Hamas and demonization of Hamas
> there is tremendous space for work on finding
> constructive paths that will benefit all sides.
>
> Q. I support the two-state solution and have been
> locked in debate with others in the peace movement who
> support a single state solution. How do current events
> impact on this important debate?
>
> A. The current crisis is a result of Israel’s obstinate
> refusal to negotiate a fair settlement. The absence of
> a Palestinian partner for peace is an Israeli
> propaganda ploy to hide the fact that Israel is
> unwilling to make even the most minimal concessions
> required for a just peace. At present, Washington and
> Jerusalem are involved in smashing the representative
> government and the self determination of the
> Palestinian people and preparing Palestinian society
> for an imposed surrender to Israeli demands and needs.
>
> As long as Washington and Israel are euphoric about
> breaking the moral unity of the Palestinian people,
> they are in no mood to negotiate about peace.  Instead
> they will generate propaganda based on empty gestures,
> such as releasing 250 Fatah prisoners from among 10,500
> prisoners in Israeli jails. In order to continue the
> battle for Israeli-Palestinian peace, it is necessary
> to reject the schemes against the national integrity of
> the Palestinian people and reject the U.S. - Israel -
> Fatah plans to split and pulverize Palestinian society.
>
> There is no reason to declare that differences of
> opinion on serious questions affecting the peace
> movement such as the debate between the two state or
> single state solutions are a thing of the past.
> However, there is every reason that each and every
> group and organization supporting peace and
> independence (with no difference as to the nature of
> the solution suggested) should rally to the cause of
> Palestinian national unity without which no peaceful
> solution of the conflict will ever be conceivable.
>
> Q: If I strongly support the two- state solution,
> shouldn't I give my support to Abu Mazen and Fatah who
> have a firm commitment to this kind of solution?
>
> A: Certain kinds of leadership can discredit a just
> cause and a just idea by converting a conception based
> on mutual recognition and just peace into a program for
> unilateral concessions, accommodation to Israeli
> interests, and worse of all, delivering their fate and
> their birthright to the manipulations of the US and
> Israeli  governments. Fatah is not fighting for a
> genuine two state solution. It is trying to survive and
> to compensate for its low esteem among the Palestinians
> by playing at hyped-up, high level diplomacy. It is not
> accidental that Abu Mazen and George Bush are competing
> in a race to the bottom in their disapproval ratings.
> Abu Mazen’s Fatah has transformed a program for dignity
> and independence into a path to abject subservience and
> has lost any credibility as an independent actor in the
> political arena.
>
> Q. What next, what can we expect?
>
> A. Abu Mazen’ recent declarations, together with
> reliable information on the deteriorating situation in
> Gaza and Rice’s upcoming visit all indicate that the
> ‘triple coalition’ is preparing concerted efforts to
> break Hamas’s influence and control of Gaza. Today’s
> NYT report (July 10, 2007) by Steven Erlanger presents
> graphic evidence that Israel and the United States are
> pursuing a detailed program to demolish all of Gaza’s
> industrial and business activity. Gaza is being slowly
> suffocated by a finely calibrated technique to show
> that any semblance of normal life in Gaza is
> unsustainable. The hope is that there will be rioting
> and pandemonium. People will try to escape. Food will
> be scarce, medical attention unavailable. Anyone who
> supports or supported Hamas will be on the receiving
> end of an object lesson not to be forgotten for the
> rest of their life. Do not rebel against Bush.  Bush is
> still strong, very strong.
>
> Abu Mazen prepares the battle ideologically. He
> explains in a recent interview to an Italian TV station
> that Hamas is committing the ultimate sin. Believe it
> or not explains Abu Mazen, Hamas is introducing Al-
> Qaeda into Gaza and allowing it to develop and become
> strong. Now this is a clear indication of how quickly
> Abu Mazen has learnt from Washington and how urgent
> coalition action against Hamas has become (Bush found
> Al-Qaeda in Iraq and this encouraged him to move up the
> time table for the invasion). It is most logical, in
> the present context, that Abu Mazen announced in the
> same interview that he will never negotiate with Hamas.
> With Bush behind him and Olmert in his corner, why
> would he need to negotiate with Hamas, just because it
> got more votes than Fatah.
>
> [Reuven Kaminer, writer and political analyst, is a
> veteran activist in the Israeli peace movement and the
> left. He is the author of "The Politics of Protest -
> The Israeli Peace Movement and the Palestinian
> Intifada" (Sussex Academic Press, 1996) and innumerable
> articles in Hebrew and English. He is one of the
> founders and editors of "Ha’gada Ha’Smolit" [The Left
> Bank] which is the leading news and commentary website
> in the country: www.hagada.org.il
>
> Over the years, he has been a founding member of
> various important protest formations such as SIAH (The
> New Israeli Left), The Israeli Committee for Solidarity
> with Bir Zeit University, the Committee against the War
> in Lebanon and "Dai L’kibush" [End the Occupation].
> Reuven Kaminer, along with Yael Lotan, Latif Dori the
> late Eliezer Feiler, was one of the defendants in a
> historical court case during 1987-1990, when the four
> were tried for having met with the PLO in Romania.
>
> Kaminer who describes himself as an independent leftist
> is a member of the Control Commission of the Democratic
> Front for Peace and Equality and the local left-leaning
> branch of Peace Now in Jerusalem.
>
> He sends out occasional political comments under the
> title From the Desk of Reuven Kaminer. Kaminer can be
> contacted at rkaminer at netvision.net.il
>
> For Reuven Kaminer’s blog: www.reuvenkaminer.com
>
> For good background historical material on the Israeli
> left (mainly in Hebrew) see: www.Israeli-Left-
> Archive.org  ]
>
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