A better solution
The attempt to control Gaza from outside, via its residents’ diet and shopping lists, casts a heavy moral stain on Israel and increases its international isolation. Every Israeli should be ashamed of the list of goods prepared by the Defense Ministry, which allows cinnamon and plastic buckets into Gaza, but not houseplants and coriander. It’s time to find more important things for our officers and bureaucrats to do than update lists.How could a disengagement be done? Israel would inform the international community that it is abandoning all responsibility for Gaza residents and their welfare. The Israel-Gaza border would be completely sealed, and Gaza would have to obtain supplies and medical services via the Egyptian border, or by sea. A target date would be set for severing Gaza’s water and electricity systems from those of Israel. The customs union with Israel would end, and the shekel would cease to be Gaza’s legal tender. Let them print their own Palestinian currency, featuring portraits of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin.
Israel would also make it clear that it will exercise its right to self-defense by inspecting suspicious cargo on the high seas in order to thwart arms smuggling. That is also how the Western powers behave: They search cargo ships for nuclear weapons and missile components. And if we are shot at from Gaza, we will shoot back – with intent to cause harm. We have already proved that we can do so. Aluf Benn, Haaretz
While the murderous shahids on the Turkish ship served no humanitarian purpose, they certainly focused the minds of Israelis.
Why bother dealing with Hamas at all? Let the assorted welfare organizations of the world, and the Arab world in particular, ship whatever supplies they want through the Egyptian crossing (if the Egyptians will let them.) This will allow a fairly substantial quantity of arms through but, as Benn points out, if those arms are used retaliation can be swift, certain and, one hope, disproportionate.
Meanwhile Israel has a perfect right to say…we’re done. You want water or power, do it yourselves. Or pay for it. Medical services…look to your Arab brethern. Money? Well there is lots of money in the Middle East.
If you want to see real poverty, real squalor, just let Gaza fend for itself under Hamas.
Frankly, I cannot see why Israel has hung on so long. As to the rockets and such like from Hamas; a good thick wall, missile interceptors and a policy of ten random howitzer shells for every rocket launched with the option of air strikes would surely school the Palis faster than the “blockade”.
And, such a policy would have the added feature of driving the loony left in the rest of the world completely nuts.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:23 am
The thing with Israel is they always have to watch their back. If they mess too much with Gaza, there’ll be rockets raining down on them from Iran. And if not Iran, then from somewhere in the immediate environs. And it looks to me like they’re on their own as far as capable and/or loyal and willing allies are concerned.
June 8th, 2010 at 2:54 am
It will drive the CBC nuts as well.
http://rubinreports.blogspot.com/2010/06/is-canadian-tv-falsely-implying-israel.html
June 8th, 2010 at 3:14 am
I was against the disengagement from Gaza because Hamas would rise, take control of the strip and the attacks would continue and even increase. What did every one else argued was if the attacks on Israel continued even after disengagement the IDF can go in and blow it up to kingdom come and no one would say boo. So what actually happened? Hamas took control in a bloody coup, attacks from Gaza increased. After tunnelling into Israel and killing two IDF soldiers and kidnapping one for ransom and the rocket fire on Israel’s southern communities increased so the IDF launched Operation Summer Rain. What happened – the world screamed outrage. Disproportionate Force.
After umpteen hudna’s and a second tunnel incident and increasing rocket fire the IDF launched Operation Cast Lead and the world howled for Israeli blood and the UN launched the Goldstone Report to condemn the Israelis. So according to this scenario, if Israel washing its hands completely of the Gaza Strip there would be nothing to prevent the Hezbollahification of the Gaza Strip. Israeli citizens will be sitting ducks and under direct attack, the IDF will go in and Israel risks all in very small pool of allies.
But you are missing the bigger picture. The UN (and the world) still thinks of Gaza as Israeli occupied territory and consequently believes Israel has a duty to care for the welfare of Gazans even after disengagement and inspite of a rogue terror government best efforts to not only kill Israelis but to make life untenable in pre-1967 Israel. Israel does it, not because they are nice guys but to keep the world knife from their throat.
If Israel were to sever all humanitarian efforts as well as control of the skies and waterways it allows Iran to have more than a foothold on Israel’s southern border. And you can bet your last dollar if Israel, after umteen attacks (and this time not by kassams which concrete rooms can be reinforced against) it would unleash the IDF; the dawgs of War all over the world would be screaming for Israeli blood but this time they would get it. Not only that but with the cessation of humanitarian aid – Israel would be embargo’d in ways of which is currently only the stuff of nightmares or perhaps even invaded by an international forced led by the United States. Say good-bye to Eretz Israel. After 2,000 years of dreaming, I am not ready to give up the reality…and most Israelis aren’t either.
June 8th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Sorry, I should have typed ‘If Israel were to sever all humanitarian efforsts as well give up control of the skies and waterways’
June 8th, 2010 at 6:21 am
I think its time to cut Palestine off the global welfare tit, for six decades they’ve had their every need taken care of it’s time they were told to provide for their own dependants. As for water and electricity I see no reason why Israel should have to provide either, let the Muslim Nations and leftarded NGO take care of their pet cause aka Palestine.
June 8th, 2010 at 7:31 am
It’s a nice idea, but it completely ignores the reality that an disengaged Israel is an open invitation for Iran to begin a proxy war through Gaza.
I mean, we are seeing this already even with the blockade. And as we are moving closer and closer to another all out war, it’s definately in the Israeli’s best interest to keep as many rockets away as possible.
June 8th, 2010 at 8:15 am
Most of you are sounding very pessimistic. I’m feeling the same way.
I don’t think I became conscious of Middle Eastern politics until I was in my late teens and especially in my very early 20s when I married an Iraqi immigrant to Canada. Of course, most of my “consciousness”, if you can call it that, was about the Arab world, and Iraq, in particular. I was aware of what Saddam Hussein was doing before anyone else had even heard his name. The horror stories I heard from my ex’s relatives were bloodcurdling.
But this situation seems unlike almost any other that I can recall and it’s all because of that idiot in the Oval Office. I’m steaming mad at him, and not just because of his backstabbing of a long-time ally in the Middle East. The guy is a totally incompetent boob who is way over his “pay grade”. There’s practically no one in the Western world who he hasn’t snubbed, insulted or just plain been stupid about.
On top of that, Europe is committing suicide. The world is going to hell in a handbasket. I keep thinking of my dad, a WWII vet. I’m sure he is turning over in his grave and I’m feeling like we are no longer drifting to war, we’re hurtling. The biggest problem is, I don’t think there is a “we” any more. I hope I’m wrong on all counts.
June 8th, 2010 at 8:33 am
Kateland and Ha!, what I find interesting is that our lefty buddies are in such deep denial as to the nature of Hamas and the increasing role of Iran. They simply do not want to know.
K. you make the very good point that the UN does take the position that Israel is still occupying Gaza. There are two responses to that: first, does anyone care what the UN thinks, second, the Arab world is not nearly as delusional as the UN. While they still do ritual condemnations, they are not happy with the increasing presence of the Shia. Nor are they thrilled at the prospect of their former colonial overlords, the Turks expanding their influence.
Were I Israel I would be expanding ties with Jordan, Egypt and Saudi while taking a much more aggressive approach to Hezbollah and Hamas. I would also be trying to speed the pace of a complete settlement with the West Bank even if that did mean ceasing to construct settlers’ apartments.
June 8th, 2010 at 10:40 am
Excellent assessment of the whole area’s interests…
http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20100607_limits_public_opinion_arabs_israelis_and_strategic_balance?utm_source=GWeekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100608&utm_content=readmore&elq=60b2f166570f4dda8a8fb8a0092f56c6
June 8th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Well, as much as I wish it wasn’t so, we do have to take into consideration the UN. While it may fail to bring any resolutions with teeth that bite against any other country, one can bet the farm the only resolution with teeth could easily be passed against Israel…such as invasion resolution. The only thing holding back such a scenario is the US veto and that’s not a given any more. If Obama were to survive for a second term I think we would see a total meltdown of the Israeli-American alliance.
While Iran is a definite worry for Egypt, Gulf States and Jordan, its hard for Israel to format any lasting alliance given the Gulf states refusal to recognize the Zionist entity actually exists. Egypt routinely refers to Israel as the ‘enemy state’ and Jordan has been cold acquaintanceship for quite some time – in fact, Jordan is terribly worried the Israelis will try to dump the Palestinians back on them. I would argue America’s foreign policy indecisiveness is actually working against their interests in the mid-East and while the Obama administration may think it wise to put some distance in the Israeli American alliance in pursuit of the Muslim world, it has only created the perception that America is a fair weather friend at the best of times.
Furthermore, the Americans have been acting very hinky under Obama and the Arab are not counting on American aid to do anything meaningful. Now with Turkey jockeying to cozy up to both Tehran and Damascus everybody is scrambling for cover and hoping the Israeli’s do a hail mary pass to save them. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn the Saudi diplomats are even now looking desperately looking for a number to call in Tehran. Of course, even if the Israelis move successfully against Iran none will be grateful enough not to condemn the Israelis in the UN. My best guest that the knives would come out to castrate a triumphant Israel because as much as everyone wants the Iranian monkey off their back…a triumphant Zionist entity still wouldn’t be 10th choice on anyone’s dance card.
The Israelis really need to start making alliances with the Chinese and the Russians and forget the Americans under the Obama Administration. Lieberman has made some headway with the Russians but its tricky at best. Now a Chinese Israeli relationship could be really be rather formidable.
As for a west bank settlement – the problem is twofold. Abbas only support base is the Americans. He can’t make a settlement with the Israelis because he simply has no support in the West Bank. Right now the PA is seriously considering canceling local council elections as Hamas supporters are poised to win if the elections are to move forward. This is also the same reason the Abbas hasn’t called for the Chairmanship elections for the PA even though his mandate ran out 2 years ago.
Abbas could sign an agreement tomorrow but he can’t muster any support from the Palestinians to accept anything he signs. Then Israel faces the possibility of civil war and a revolt in the IDF if it attempts to do the West Bank settlers what it did to the members of Gush Katif. The religious have almost completely tipped the demographics in the IDF. Furthermore, Israel still hasn’t settled the 9,000 Gush Katif refugees and compensation still hasn’t been fully paid out – their plight is very much in the public eye in Israel even if its off everyone else’s radar in the West. The settlements number almost a half a million – Israel can’t even afford to evict another 10,000 let alone anywhere from 50,000-80,000 which is the numbers most bandied about depending on which of the larger settlements Israel gets to keep without risking civil insurrection.
June 9th, 2010 at 7:32 am
Dan thanks for that article, very informative.
June 9th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
In this p.c. age, there is far too little examination of the rather plainly evident traits of inadequacy and paranoia within the pan-Arab culture.
There is also such a glaring lack of compassion and civic minded leadership, the various despots and so-called princes are much more interested in partying on the surplus funds of their oil wealth than giving even a pittance to the Palestinians.
I don’t think this can all end well—and when it does end, it will blow to kingdom come (quite literally we hope).