By Bruce S. Ticker
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania–Hamas terrorists might wish to relish their victory over Israel while they can – their cynical public relations victory. For the moment, Israel is an ogre in the eyes of the world, Hamas is champion of the Palestinians. However, Hamas soon could replace Israel as villain of a drama that is much of its own making.
U.S. President Joe Biden swiftly moved to rebuild Gaza from the destruction resulting from the 11-day military confrontation between Israel and Hamas, a reluctant first step to involve his administration in the Middle East conflict. In the process, he sidelined Hamas. No leading, no following; he decided to simply get them out of the way.
Hamas can respond by facilitating efforts to revive the sections of Gaza damaged or demolished by bombings, or it can refuse to allow one or more factions in to do their work.
“In a sense, you need to put Hamas in a position where they have to choose between their rockets and the well-being of Gaza,” Dennis B. Ross, former Middle East envoy in President Bill Clinton’s administration. was quoted as saying in The New York Times.
Of all factions, Hamas is most responsible for rendering impossible a hopeful future for the Middle East. It controls Gaza; it is devoted to Israel’s destruction; it enjoys a measure of popularity among Palestinians; it can rarely be reasoned with; and it can only be eliminated by taking thousands of civilians with it. A full-fledged campaign to dislodge Hamas could lead to a Vietnam-style case of destroying Gaza to save it.
Biden has offered to spend more than $360 million to aid Palestinians, with much of it to rebuild Gaza after bombings reportedly killed more than 230 people there and 12 in Israel, while forcing an estimated 72,000 Gazans from their homes and hundreds of thousands more to be cut off from water and electricity.
As he ended a brief tour of the region last week, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken announced that he would work with other countries in the area “to ensure we all contribute to recovery, stability and the reduction of tensions,” according to the Times. Egypt offered to contribute $500 million for Gaza, and he pointed to Jordan’s “vital role” in working with the Palestinian Authority, Hamas’ political rival, in Judea and Samaria, commonly referred to as the “West Bank.”
The president has said that the Palestinian Authority should be responsible for reconstruction, not Hamas. Blinken suggested working with the P.A. as a means of undermining Hamas and to help make certain that Hamas does not benefit from the infusion of aid, the Times reported.
“Hamas does not want the PA in charge of this process,” said Ghassan Khatib, a political scientist at Birzeit University in the West Bank.
Perhaps Hamas will cooperate. Everyone would win if that happens. The people of Gaza could look forward to better lives, and perhaps peace could at last be achieved between Israel and the Palestinians.
Next up is the obvious question if that does not happen: What will Hamas do and how will America and other entities respond?
Biden can exploit his bully pulpit to shame Hamas. He can shine an ultra-bright spotlight on Hamas so that the world will recognize the despicable nature of these terrorists. Biden can remind the world how much everyone is trying to help the Palestinian people, and now it is Hamas standing in the way.
After all, Israel is not blocking the rebuilding drive. Biden and all the good people of the world can do nothing to help these poor people so long as Hamas is obstructing them. All the fine intentions, all the money raised…wasted because of Hamas.
If history is any guide, Hamas will demand control of reconstruction, and if Biden gives them the wrong kind of shout-out they will be too stubborn to relent. Maybe Biden can apply sufficient pressure to move them, which is doubtful. It would be nice to help Palestinian civilians in Gaza, but the best we might get from Biden’s initiative is that the blame will be directed at Hamas this time.
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Bruce S. Ticker is a Philadelphia-based columnist. He may be contacted via bruce.ticker@sdjewishworld.com