And The Loser Is: Hamas |
About this Article
Summary: The Islamic Jihad pushed Hamas into a corner and gave Gaza Strip residents hope and encouragement. As a result, Gaza is becoming much more radical, writes Roni Shaked in Yedioth Ahronoth. Publisher: Yedioth Ahronoth (Israel) Original Title: The Big Loser: Hamas Author: Roni Shaked Published on: Wednesday, Mar 14, 2012 Translated On: Wednesday, Mar 21, 2012 Translator: Sandy Bloom |
Hamas is confused. Sitting on the fence in recent days while holding its fire wasn’t good for the organization. Some group leaders attempted to voice their support for the fighting, yet Saturday [March 17, 2012] they coordinated via Egypt to secure a ceasefire. Hamas had no power to put an end to Jihad’s fire, and truce talks with Egypt were managed far from the public eye.
Ismail Haniyeh, in a grey suit and striped blue shirt, sat on Tuesday afternoon between two large Palestinian flags to make his announcement. “The aggression has ceased. We have put an end to the policy of targeted killings,” he said, with a touch of discomfort. Simultaneously, one of the Hamas higher-ups hinted that Hamas’ military forces indirectly assisted the fighting. But the Gazans were not convinced.
Hamas, unlike Islamic Jihad or the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), is a group that wishes to hold power. Hence, its leaders in Gaza and abroad decided to promote a truce at this time. Meanwhile, Jihad and the PRC offer a very simple ideology: war, war and more war against Israel until it is annihilated. Hamas wants Islamic rule and to take over the Palestinian Authority. It also wants Arab and international legitimacy, so it tries to conduct itself responsibly. And so, Hamas has become a mediator between Israel and Islamic Jihad, prompting Gaza residents to scoff. “They present themselves as a neutral force in the battlefield. This is not the Hamas we know,” they say.
Support for Hamas on Gaza’s streets has declined. For Gazans, Islamic Jihad has become the preferred alternative and in recent days the group gave them some hope and encouragement. The result is that Gaza is becoming more radical.
When will the next round of fighting erupt? That’s only a matter of time. The ceasefire, just like all the temporary truces of recent years that didn’t last, is merely a time-out between rounds of violence. Even after the latest round, it’s clear that Israel won’t be able to show restraint in the face of new terror plots in Gaza. Islamic Jihad and the PRC won’t be able to contain themselves for long either. They will use the time-out to restore their missile arsenal and prepare for the next round.
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