Hamas and the Death of a Better Future

Gaza.

For many, the word conjures images of crowded neighborhoods caught in perpetual strife - between Hamas and Fatah, between Hamas and Israel. For the myopic European media, Gaza is another example of Israeli heavy-handedness. Israelis, especially those living in the expanding range of Hamas rockets, see Gaza as proof that unilateral concessions compromise Israel's safety while bringing peace no closer.

To me, Gaza is far more personal. As an Israeli infantry officer, I served in Gaza before, during, and after the 2005 Disengagement. While the character and content of the mission changed drastically during my years in the Strip, a striking feature of my service was the time and effort spent trying to find ways to live in peace with the people and rulers of Gaza.

This was no doubt complicated by the presence of Israeli communities in Gaza, since withdrawn. Even so, every morning I secured the entry of 500 Palestinian workers into the Ganei Tal farms, providing them access to good jobs and support for their families. The Israeli farmers insisted on continuing the employment of these workers even as Hamas attempted to destroy any manifestation of coexistence, regularly attacking the Gazans' entry point into the farms. Then, as now, Gazans were given medical treatment in Israel when their needs were beyond the capabilities of local hospitals.

In 2005, the Israeli government under Ariel Sharon decided to forcibly evacuate Israeli families from their homes in Gaza. At great cost, and at the risk of damaging the fabric of Israeli society and the cohesion of its armed forces, the IDF spent months training for and performing the removal of Israeli citizens from their homes. As a participant in the painful episode, I have vivid memories of the anger and confusion caused by this drastic step taken in the hope that Israel's sacrifice would lead to something better for all peoples of the region. Israeli farmers left valuable greenhouses intact for Palestinians to begin building a vibrant economy on the ruins of the Jewish communities, but Hamas tore them down the night Israel left.

After we evacuated every last inch of Gaza, Hamas refused to let Israel's gesture open a window for peace. Immediately, Hamas began smuggling anti-tank missiles, mines, and rockets into the territory in preparation for attacks on Israel instead of using that money to build a civil society. In June 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in stunningly violent fashion, throwing handcuffed Fatah members from buildings and executing rivals in the street. Human Rights Watch called these actions "war crimes, pure and simple." Hundreds of Gazan civilians allied with Fatah fled to Erez crossing, hoping Israel would arrange for their safe transport to the West Bank, and knowing that, at the very least, Israel would protect their lives. Hamas made it clear that anyone who ventured back into Gaza would be arrested or shot, and it barred the delivery of food and water. I commanded the force overseeing Erez that week, and we delivered water and sandwiches to the civilians three times a day. Hamas managed to sneak two operatives into the Gazan side of Erez, who lobbed grenades and fired their AK-47s into the crowd of Palestinian civilians. I immediately understood that any return fire from our position risked striking the civilians cowering from the Hamas attack. I gave only my sharpshooter permission to fire, and we managed to chase off the Hamas attackers without hitting any civilians. Unfortunately, the terrorists did manage to kill a middle-aged Palestinian man and wound almost twenty civilians, including a young girl. The wounded were brought to Israel for treatment. The rest of the threatened civilians in Erez were transported by Israel to the West Bank, away from the grim future of Hamas-ruled Gaza.

After the consolidation of Hamas power, Israel exercised great restraint in Gaza, offering 'quiet for quiet' even as Hamas built up its arsenal and fired on southern Israel. Israeli citizens wondered aloud why the IDF was not defending its citizens from Hamas attacks. Our rules of engagement, always strict, were especially tight, as Israel was determined to make even imperfect cease-fires work. On multiple occasions, I was surprised to hear Gazan farmers tell me they would rather return to pre-Disengagement Gaza, when there was work, a reasonable ruling authority, and no armed Hamas squads terrorizing civilians who did not ally with the movement.

It has become painfully clear to Israelis that Hamas' demands on Israel are endless because they seek destruction, not peace. Despite Hamas' bluntness regarding its aims, the Western media continues to assume the organization is motivated by defensive goals, such as the end of the blockade or an Israeli withdrawal to the June 1967 lines.

World opinion has tremendous strategic importance, as Israel learned in the 2006 war in Lebanon, where international pressure forced Israel to end the war prematurely. While international pressure is beginning to close Israel's operational window, thus far it seems Israel's military and political leaders have internalized the lessons of 2006. The public relations effort was ready before the campaign. The reserves were called up early and have had time to train and equip for a potential third phase of the operation. Israeli ground forces are using tactics that play to their strengths, such as avoiding built-up city centers unless absolutely necessary and reducing the threat to armor by leading with special forces and infantry.

Israel's strategic challenge is frustrating for its people, who know the sacrifices they have made to give peace a chance in Gaza. But Israel's military options are limited by an international community indifferent to those efforts and to Hamas' aims. If, as the operation indicates, Israel has learned the lessons from 2006, it may well come out of Cast Lead with its deterrence strengthened, a robust international force combating smuggling from Egypt, and its citizens free from Hamas rockets.

Lazar Berman served as an IDF infantry officer in Gaza from 2004-2007 and currently studies military operations at Georgetown University's Graduate School of Foreign Service.

Comments

[cherry33]

Poor, poor Israel. All it wanted was a to ethnically cleanse the land. Often, there are opportunities to make the most of tragic experiences. Such is the case with Israel today, since its apologists say they feel the affects of the Holocaust, they have a chance to avoid creating despair on earth instead of contributing to it. It does not matter if your neighbors are ineffectual bullies (which Hamas is, since they hadn't managed to kill that many Israelis), as a "civilized nation" (aka "western") must we contribute to the calamities so much? Is it fair game now? You see, no matter what race you are, we all have the potential to be oppressors and victims. Israel must recognize that even if its people were oppressed years back, they still have the capacity to be oppressors today. To think otherwise, is racist.

[parkerfly38]

I'm glad most of these comments don't speak for the larger quadrants of liberalism. You all successfully demonstrate that liberals can be just as faulty in their reasoning as conservatives. While you all refuse to acknowledge what Hamas is, you want to punish Israel for trying to protect their citizenry.

Here's a clue, people. Innocent people get hurt in war. Responsible governments neither seek it out, nor encourage actions that will bring it upon them. Rocket fire, even errant kinds, is still an act of war. The tragedy is the human suffering, but you seem incapable of placing the blame on a terrorist government, that being Hamas--before the oh-so-clever "Israel is a terrorist government" rears its head.

I question why you are all so anti-Israel when there is a whole host of other countries, besides your favorites, the US and Israel, guilty of more recent and more heinous actions. Until you can look in the mirror and honestly answer that question, I suspect you'll all be sitting on the sidelines in the new administration, wondering why our policy towards Israel has not changed in 60 years.

[terry52]

fighting a few terrorists with a huge army is somewhat different than what hamas does.....you went in and blew up homes woped out infrastructure destroyed un humanitarion goods needed to feed people I know there must be peace but you talk about giving gazans land that the settlers were on back with greenhouses and all...but that all belonged to them in the first place. If isreal hadn't expended settlements in order for gazens not to live humanly none of this would be happening.

[cherry33]

"Here's a clue, people. Innocent people get hurt in war."


Hmm, that makes sense. There's one terrorist in the building. Let's bomb it, huh? Yeah, real rational.


"I question why you are all so anti-Israel when there is a whole host of other countries..."

I question why you think people who call others out on their irrational measures are "anti-" anything.

Again, BIG DUH, we know Hamas is cracked. But why must the whole population pay? Why not attack back in such a way that would maybe kill under 20 people, such as was the case for Israeli casualties? Why not equal reaction? I guess Gazan life is worth less. It comes with the territory.

Today is a new anti-semitism against Arabs. Thank you for participating.

[calbears]

After reading this column, all I can say is that I'm very very sorry that my tax dollars go to supporting the state of Israel and its thugs that provide public relations for it. Why is no one the least bit bothered by the fact that today, sitting in Israel's government, are radical racists arguing for ethnic cleaning or "transfer" of the Palestinians? Why is no one saying a word about the fact that Israel has "banned" two Palestinian Arab political parties from participating in the next elections for dissenting against Israel's massacre of Gazans?

The bizarre idea that Israel is a "normal" state that just wants "peace" with the Palestinians ignores the fact that you can't bomb people and claim you want peace with them. You can't nurture and kill them at the same time. You can't drop phosphorous bombs on them and then say "sorry, our war isn't against you."

No Palestinian is that stupid to believe this great big pile of you-know-what that isn't even a very good cover for the fact that Israel wants to destroy the Palestinians and hold onto all of historical Palestine.

[parkerfly38]

Have you been there? No.

You can't rocket people and say you want to be taken seriously on the world stage, either. But ignore that, never answer to that...

[bbrecht]

Palestinian Refugees have the right to return to their homes in Israel.

General Assembly Resolution 194, Dec. 11, 1948

"Resolves that the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible."

Israel's occupation of Palestine is Illegal.

Security Council Resolution 242, Nov. 22, 1967

Calls for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from territories occupied in the war that year and "the acknowledgment of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of every state in the area and their right to live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force."

Israel's settlements in Palestine are Illegal.

Security Council Resolution 446, March 22, 1979

"Determines that the policy and practices of Israel in establishing settlements in the Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967 have no legal validity and constitute a serious obstruction to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in the Middle East."

Palestinian have the right to Self-Determination.

General Assembly Resolution 3236, November 22, 1974

Affirms "the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people in Palestine...to self-determination without external interference" and "to national independence and sovereignty."

[CALBearman]

Berman sounds like he worked for the Bush/Cheney spin organization. Should we dismisss the historical fact that Israel basically stole this land, forced people from their homes, blockaded their economic growth so that they would become dependant on Israeli handouts, etc, etc, etc, This is simplistic, narrow, one sided BS. Or maybe he is just a liar. Look, the only way to understand clearly what is going on in Gaza, Israel etc is to realize that the Israeli government like its U.S. supporters is an imperialist, fascist organization. Particularly ironic in the case of Israel. Like Fascist, imperialist Germany, what they are doing will not work. The financial, economic and moral decay that has enveloped the U.S. will soon force both of these countries to pull back on their milatary options. Being an American I can only hope that the backlash will not be severe. For the Iraeli people I can only hope for a peaceful resolution, but the present state of mind of both sides may prevail which in the end will result in more violence, injustice, revenge and general suffering for all the people involved.

[parkerfly38]

Have you ever visited Israel to make those assessments? Have you hung out with Arab citizens of Israel and asked their opinion about this so-called fascist state? I suspect not. You, like everyone else expressing similar sentiments, are just as uncultured and tendentious as those we've endured with 8 years of Bush.

[terry52]

I know first hand from Isreali arabs that they are treated liken second class citizens. I have talked with many of them

[InjunTrouble]

At least all Israelis lie consistently. Or maybe they all believe their own lies.

Israel is actually the most peaceful nation on earth - nobody can undestand why the Palestinians hate them so much when all that the Israelis did was to steal their land.

[phindrup]

How could we have so mistaken the generousity and restraint of the Israelis?

For forty odd years Israelis have occupied Palestine. For forty years they have harassed, humiliated and stolen from them. They have fenced Palestinians into 140 square miles, with checkpoints and travel restrictions – some of them in place since the beginning of the intifada in 2000 - limit Palestinians' access to schools and medical care and fuel frustration.

Frequent incursions into Gaza where homes were bulldozed, children killed for throwing stones at Israeli tanks, the wanton destruction of the already minimal infrastructure, the airstrike upon the defence ditch on November 4, the reduction of daily food trucks from the 100 odd per day — which provide borderline starvation levels — to just 36. This for a population of 1.5 million!

The drastic reduction of water purifying chemicals and diesel — essential the run water and sewage pumps and the hospital generators.

Of course the Palestinians are an ungratefull, stupid warlike mob! How dare they lob rockets, however ineffective, upon those who are occupying their land, their villages! It is a bloody outrage!

[Donatella]

Although I don’t entirely agree with Lazar Berman’s comments, I certainly appreciate reading his perspective. I do believe that points need to be clarified.

“In June 2007, Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in stunningly violent fashion..”

Mr. Berman seems honestly horrified at the violence against Fatah that Hamas unleased in the summer of 2007. What he doesn’t mention is that Israel and the US funded and armed the Fatah strongman, Dahlan, to overthrow Hamas and install a puppet government. Hamas learned about this coup and took pre-emptive measures. This has been widely publicized. The Vichy government that Fatah represents is corrupt and compromised, is it any wonder that Palestinians support Hamas.

“World opinion has tremendous strategic importance, as Israel learned in the 2006 war in Lebanon, where international pressure forced Israel to end the war prematurely.”

I might feel more sympathetic for Israel’s plight of “ending the war prematurely” if they hadn’t dropped millions of cluster bombs after hostilities ceased and days before the official ceasefire began. These bombs had very little military significance, the target was the civilian population. What was “disappointing”, to use a recent Bush phrase, is that the US supplied the cluster bombs that are still killing civilians.

[SilviaMaria]

Donatella, thank you pointing out the facts. We all seem to suffer from selective memory.

[parkerfly38]

So says you. Show us some facts about these cluster bombs and their use in warfare, please, before you throw it out as if it is fact.

[leucippe]

Reading some of the vicious anti-Israel comments on this blog is a sickening experience. Lazar Berman is trying to educate you about what actually goes one and gets dismissed as some propaganda artist or worse -- dare I say the word -- Zionist!! I can't decide whether it's willful ignorance or kneejerk hatred, no matter what. what a sad day for us all.

[driven989]

Educating is one thing, propagating is another. Learn your history, and stop supporting occupation.

[officewag]

Propagandizing is what you mean, I think.

[Fireslayer]

This article contributes nothing past IDF talking points.

It accuses Europe and the media of myopia. This is the authors very myopic view.

The world condemn the IDF for war crimes and an illegal occupation.

And you laud yourself for handing out sandwhiches and bottled water after your folks are pumping the water out from under Gaza so they cannot grow their own food and slake their own thirst.

Oh, you might magnanimous war hero! Lob a few more white phosphorous bombs for peace.

[parkerfly38]

From your comfortable armchair in America, I'm guessing you're entitled to your opinion. Thank heavens it means so very little.

[terry52]

right now it means little...but wanting a two state soulition for both isreal and palestine is what you should be wanting parkerfly, because isreal has a strong palistenan population which is growing and will soon surpass isreali's// It is in the interest of Isreal to make peace with the palestineans,

[behindEnemyLines]

Incredible. I must say you liberals that reply to these post are something else. The disrespect you show a man who served and protected his country is reprehensible. The funniest part is you are some of the same people that want Americans to be nice to Obama and give him a chance. Yet when you disagree with someones point of view you don't hold back. Not surprising though, we have all seen how you treat American soldiers. Straight up disgraceful.

[driven989]

You are an embarrassment to this country with such blind, unquestioning allegiance. Put down your gun and pick up a book.

[gwhizz]

Polly want a cracker! SQUAAWKKK!!!

[driven989]

Oh Mr. Berman -- you are such a "humanitarian!" Thank you so much for giving those poor, destitute and wretched Palestinians "water and sandwiches." They should be thankful for all you, your IDF brothers and sisters, and Israel in general has done for them. They should be thankful you have stolen their land, killed their fathers, imprisoned their brothers, raped their sisters, humiliated their mothers, beaten their children, demolished their homes, destroyed their infrastructure, crushed their economy, refused to abide by international law, rejected the one state solution, rejected the two state solution. Oh you inhumane Palestinians, how dare you resist occupation -- do you not see all Mr. Berman and his people have done for you?! Thank you for all you have done Mr. Berman, thank you so much...

[courtb]

What one state solution? And seriously, could you be any more melodramatic?

[driven989]

Are you serious? There are many scholars, humanitarians and progressives calling for a one state solution -- but apparently you do not understand this issue well enough to even consider this fact. Israel constantly talks about something called the "Palestinian Demographic Problem." Israel is ultimately fearful that they will be out-numbered by Arabs on the land, and that a one-state solution (assuming all citizens have equal rights under the law) would jeapordize the "Jewishness" of the land.

If Israel keeps expanding settlements, as they are doing in the West Bank, a one-state solution will ultimately be the only answer. Israel has emphatically rejected this solution, but are in an ideological war with the the extremists in their society about what the borders of Israel should constitute. So far, the extremists are winning.

You need to learn the facts of this issue. There are too many people that simply do not know a single thing about this conflict, other than silly "talking points."

[TimDanMick]

Israels current purpose is to keep its enemies in disarray and confusion so that there can be no concerted action taken against them. The status quo suits Israel. To maintain the confusion they must periodically invade to destroy infrastructure, school records, places of employment, hospitals; everything that would permit the enemy to regain equilibrium. All talks of peace today are a smokescreen.
Anyone who really hopes that Israel has a future knows that compromise and talks are required rather than actions that multiply and galvanize the enemies of Israel.
Israel is being supported and encouraged by the US which is at the moment the most bellicose nation on the planet ( money talks). Israel is not within the natural sphere of influence of the US. It must for the future come to an accommodation with the countries of the Middle East and Europe.

[UberReaganite]

Hamas just REJECTED Israel's offer of a cease fire, just in case you people whining for sympothy for the Palestinian Terrorists have'nt heard. Why am I not surprised? Hamas, Hezbollah, PLO, whatever you call the Terrorists is this week ONCE AGAIN have chosen war over peace. Every time there was cease fire or treaty with Israel it has been these same terrorists who violated it FIRST and continually. and yet some still say Israel is the aggressor.

Palestinians have been offered NUMEROUS opportunites to reach a diplomatic resolution and even to form their own nation. 1919, 1947, 1978, 2006 and each and every time they have torpedoed or ignored the negotiations. Every time.

So please tell me why I should care if more Palestinians are dying. Obviously they dont want to put their rockets and human bombers away and talk peace so why should I care as an American who is neither Jew nor Arab if a few more Palestinians must die because Hamas is too stupid to negotiate? Lets face it. For every 10 Israeli's that die 1000 Palestinians will die so if you fools think you are WINNING this conflict take a look at your crappy neighborhoods, occupied territory, high body count on your side and then please tell me how Hamas is WINNING this for you.

[driven989]

Read a book you criminal liar. Your name says it all...

[fedupwithpolitics]

The headline in Reuters today claimed: “Israel plans ceasefire, Hamas vows to fight on.” It should have said: “Israel refuses to sign cease-fire truce offered by Hamas; seeks right to keep crossings closed and resume attacks at will.” In fact, that’s exactly what this unnegotiated unilateral cease-fire will do–there is no committment by Israel to open the borders or leave Gaza, both of which were items Hamas wanted in return for a 1-year cease-fire truce.

Furthermore, Israel signed an agreement with the U.S. this week that drags us into securing the border between Gaza and Egypt. Israel is also hoping to sign an agreement with Egypt that would increase security along the Gaza-Egyptian border. An Egyptian-Israeli agreement would open the Rafah border crossing in line with a 2005 agreement with the Palestinian Authority, which calls for Abbas’s forces to control the border crossing and for Europeans to monitor traffic.

By such an agreement, Israel would once again be holding 1.5 million Gazans hostage to its border control policies and attempting to oust Hamas in favor of Fatah. This will only cause more civil war and division among Palestinians and further prevent Gaza’s civilian population from getting the food and medicine it so desperately needs.

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