Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that Hamas’s demands for a permanent ceasefire–the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the end of the blockade, and an exchange of hostages for prisoners–are “ludicrous”.
But what is really ludicrous is Israel’s assumption that it can “destroy” Hamas.
Implausibly, Israel claimed last month that it had taken out two-thirds of Hamas’s fighting regiments. Maybe a third, American sources say.
On February 8, New York Times reporters Julian Barnes and Edward Wong wrote that American officials emphasize that in “war after war” the United States has learned that “counting the number of enemies killed in an insurgency or counter-terrorism operation is a fool’s game. Operations that kill militants often radicalize others, swelling the ranks of enemy organizations.”
They added: “And U.S. officials say death counts of fighters do not give any indication of whether a government has addressed the core issues driving the war.”
Would that such clear-headedness prevailed in Congress and the White House. Instead, the administration apparently intends to veto another U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire which Algeria plans to introduce on February 20.
U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the resolution “may run counter” to a hostage deal, which would “bring an immediate and sustained period of calm to Gaza for at least six weeks.” Unfortunately, Netanyahu, in pursuit of “total victory”, is not interested.
That the administration is planning to take a very unpopular position again demonstrates two things. First, our interests and Israel’s–especially as conceived by the extremists in Tel Aviv– do not align. Second, the Israel lobby is still dictating U.S. policy.
It is important to note that the bulk of Israel’s supporters in the United States are not Jews, but conservative evangelical Christians. And among American Jews are many champions of the Palestinian cause.
This months- old slaughter of Gazans is long, long past any defensive operation, especially given that Israel is an occupier. When I see ads asking if I believe Israel has a right to defend itself, I am sorely tempted to answer no.
By now it is pretty clear that Israel intends to empty Gaza of Palestinians, paving the way for Jewish settlers. That would leave the Palestinians of the West Bank as the sole remaining obstacle to completing the century-old project to repopulate Palestine.
I know I sound like a broken record, but power does not restrain itself; as sure as you were born, preponderant power will over-extend. It is Israel’s power advantage that best explains its steady takeover of Palestinian land. Paradoxically, its military might has not made Israel more secure, but less. The international political system, which doesn’t give a hoot about “moral clarity”, does not long tolerate unbalanced power. Thus, just as Russia is balancing against Western power, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and Iran are all balancing against Israel.
The restoration of balance often occurs at tremendous costs in blood and treasure. That is why excessive power is more curse than blessing. No country can be trusted with it.
Today is February 19, Day 136 of Netanyahu’s “mighty vengeance” on the Palestinians. Thus far, over 29,100 Gazans have been killed, and over 69,000 wounded. It would be very generous to Israel to assume 9,000 of those killed were Hamas fighters. That would leave 20,000 innocents killed as collateral damage.
A spokesperson for the Biden administration recently said that one innocent death in Gaza is one too many. How about 20,000?
According to Cindy McCain, head of the U.N. World Food Programme, children in Gaza are now starving to death. America’s complicity in this crime must end. The President and Congress must freeze military aid to Israel, and insist on a permanent ceasefire and the dismantling of the unjust order Israel has imposed on the Palestinians.
If Israel really wants Hamas to go away, it must see to justice.
Get Real with Israel 