The situation in the Gaza Strip, target of a 50-day genocidal campaign by Israel has lost — sadly and regrettably — its front-page prominence now that the Western powers, led by the US, are waging their own Mideast offensive against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) — an air campaign that reportedly may take more than three years to complete, if at all.
At the same time, Israel appears to be in a jittery situation whereby the military establishment is said to be anticipating a UN investigation that would yield war-crimes charges for its horrific war against the besieged Gaza Strip, an area of 227 square kilometres and a population of 1.82 million Palestinians, described as “among the most densely populated parts of the world”.
At the same time, there are serious differences among the Israeli cabinet members. On one side Justice Minister Tzipi Livni believes that a diplomatic agreement with the “moderate” Palestinian camp is in the security interest of Israel. She reportedly rejected criticism from her coalition mate, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett (of the right-wing Jewish Home party) who said last Monday that those pushing for a Palestinian state in “Judea and Samaria”, that is the West Bank, were locked into a “failed conception” as dangerous for Israel now as was the “failed conception” that led to the 1973 Arab-Israel war.
Livni and Finance Minister Yair Lapid are pushing for talks, but they are in the minority. “As opposed to what is commonly thought, policy on the peace process is what could threaten the stability of the coalition, not the 2015 budget,” an unidentified minister told the Israeli liberal daily Haaretz. It is believed that it is unlikely that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu will head in this direction.
Israel is also facing tough positions from European nations over its recent expropriation of 1,000 acres of Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank to start new colonies in the region. Britain, France, Italy, and Spain and Germany reportedly told the Israeli National Security adviser Yossi Cohen that the decision was “very bad … in a terrible timing that we hope it will be reversed”. But there was no public reaction from the Israelis who had earlier heard the same timid position from the Obama administration.
Amidst all this turmoil in the region, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received a much-needed shot in the arm when the 22-member League of Arab States endorsed his plan to seek a UN decision to set a three-year deadline for Israel to evacuate all Palestinian land captured in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. This will include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in order to achieve an independent Palestinian state.
Whether the US will be willing to endorse this step remains to be seen, especially that it will be at this time immersed in the war of attrition against the well-armed Isil in Iraq and Syria. Before the Obama administration takes a negative step, it must be aware that any anti-Palestinian decision might inflame the region. After all the growth of sectarianism in the Middle East has been blamed, in part, on Western endorsement of military-led regimes in the key Arab states and the failure to promote democracy in the region. This target should be seriously adopted henceforth, something the autocratic regimes of yesteryears could not fathom. In reaction, some in the public opted to join religious organisations, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, since this afforded them an automatic cover, protecting from the militarists’ abuse.
The Palestinian people, especially those in the Gaza Strip need immediate humanitarian attention, mainly the rebuilding of schools, hospitals and homes. The estimate of this undertaking, as compiled by the Palestine Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, has been set at $7.6 billion (Dh27.90 billion). The Palestinians are hoping to raise this amount at a conference of donor nations in Cairo next month.
But preceding this event, the Palestinian leaders from both Fatah and Hamas, ought to put their political establishment in order which would be facilitated if President Abbas travels to the Gaza Strip and witnesses the unbelievable demolition of the region, where thousands of buildings were destroyed and tens of thousands people were left homeless. The death toll exceeded 2,100 persons, most of them women and children. His presence may rekindle his popularity in the tortured community which he had not visited since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip seven years ago.
George S. Hishmeh is a Washington-based columnist. He can be contacted at ghishmeh@gulfnews.com
