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Jan

13

Gaza and Israel: With due respect, Thomas Friedman is naive


Hopeful, but naive. Read his op-ed in Wednesday’s New York Times here.

Key portion:

Israel de facto recognizes Hamas’s right to rule Gaza and to provide for the well-being and security of the people of Gaza — which was actually Hamas’s original campaign message, not rocketing Israel. And, in return, Hamas has to signal a willingness to assume responsibility for a lasting cease-fire and to abandon efforts to change the strategic equation with Israel by deploying longer and longer range rockets. That’s the only deal. Let’s give it a try.

No, that’s not the only deal.  You titled your book, The World is Flat, but Mr. Friedman, the Israel-Palestinian conflict is no more flat than the world you discussed in that book.  Suggesting that, “in return, Hamas has to signal a willingness to assume responsibility for a lasting cease-fire and to abandon efforts to change the strategic equation with Israel by deploying longer and longer range rockets….” completely ignores political and ideological realities.

I continue to believe that Hamas failed in its leadership – certainly on the scores Friedman suggests (providing for the well-being and security of the people of Gaza) and that on that basis alone, the Palestinians needs new leadership.  But from where?

That is the question I would love Friedman and others to tackle – where is the leadership? Who is the leadership? For my hope, my naivete, is to continue to believe that the Palestinians want better – better than what Hamas promises, or wants.

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By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:42 pm January 13th, 2009 in Gaza, Israel 

Comments

7 Responses to “Gaza and Israel: With due respect, Thomas Friedman is naive”

  1. 1 john lee on January 14th, 2009 7:24 am

    The trouble with the israel palestinian conflict goes right back to the early creation of israel as a state, Hammas grew out of the guerilla factions who wanted israel destroyed then, and still wants israel destroyed today.

  2. 2 Jill Miller Zimon on January 14th, 2009 7:30 am

    John – I don’t think we’re going to agree on this, but let me tell you what I think about that assertion, just so you know and I’m on the record about it:

    1. “Early creation” – it’s only been 60 years – which is good, but certainly not as old as the UK.

    2. The factions that want Israel destroyed would exist regardless of what they were named. Whether they’d be as virulent or not as Hamas isn’t really knowable, but the existence of a guerilla faction like Hamas could have formed and in fact had the ability (the sentiment) to form long before Hamas came into formal existence.

    3. Again – conflict over this specific land has existed since 3000 BC. It’s really quite amazing just how long civilization has lived with the conflict, when you think about it. And how many different conquerors tried gain and maintain control over it.

    Thanks for reading and commenting.

  3. 3 Ryan on January 14th, 2009 9:25 am

    I think a bone of contention is the efficacy of the Fatah government in the West Bank. Peace has been able to appear tenable in the West Bank, but how well is Fatah and the Abbas faction governing? I’d argue, simply on the basis of the quiet that’s held thus, that Fatah can govern well and has been governing well enough to maintain a peace between Israel and Palestine.

    If they are governing well, why can’t the same work in Gaza? If Hamas has been a failure of government, why can’t Fatah rise as a reasonable alternative to Hamas? I understand that the failure of Fatah to care for the people in Gaza was a direct cause of Hamas’ rise to power, but what has Fatah been doing to appear as a viable alternative?

    Since the election of Hamas a couple years ago, it’s like there have become two Palestinian states: the state governed by Hamas and the state governed by Fatah. It seems pretty clear how the fortunes of each have changed since that election.

  4. 4 Jill Miller Zimon on January 14th, 2009 9:30 am

    Ryan -thanks for the observations -I tend to agree. What I’d add, though, is that Fatah is no great shakes, but yes, they’re doing better, from a governmental and diplomatic standpoint, than Hamas. The issue becomes how Hamas is also a military and an ideological collection of individuals in a way that Fatah is not and never really has been.

    I hate to say it, and maybe it’s only because of my relative youth, growing up with Arafat always being a defining Palestinian figure, but his use of religion and dogma wasn’t nearly as strong as his use of occupier imagery – that makes the ability to talk about a two-state solution a lot easier because you don’t have this threat of a Muslim nation wanting to destroy Israel but rather just a “you live your way, we’ll live ours” kind of yearning.

    But again – that’s in hindsight. Though, I’d still be willing to say that the Sadat, Rabin and Arafat triumverate would not allow what is happening now to happen.

    But that’s not today’s reality, sadly.

    I do think that the PA in the West Bank has some leaders in it, like Hanan Ashrawi, who could really get things done – we’ll have to wait and see. It’s hard for moderates to step up – they get killed.

  5. 5 Bob on January 14th, 2009 9:32 am

    Feminism has already destroyed Israel. Look at the low birthrate and the high abortion rate.

    Feminism is suicide. It continues to bring forth nothing but misery. How can people embrace an ideology that hates half of the human population? I guess the world needs useful idiots too.

  6. 6 Jill Miller Zimon on January 14th, 2009 9:52 am

    Bob – thanks for reading and commenting but this isn’t really a post about that – however, I did write about it here. Hope you’ll read and comment there.

  7. 7 The Reverend on January 14th, 2009 12:29 pm

    Friedman’s odious piece, which I include on my blog today, sanctimoniously states that the slaughter taking place in Gaza is really about “educating” Hamas and the Palestinian population.

    While I agree with you, Jill, that Hamas needs better leadership….I also believe that Israel’s leadership, as witnessed in their brutal killing spree, is a total disgrace.

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