15 July 2006
Fighting Among the People of the Book
Does anyone else feel that Hammas and Likud were just waiting for an excuse to escalate violence in Gaza? I mean, because one soldier was kidnapped all of Israel's military force began bombing Gaza far in excess of the offense. As a result, Israel's control of Gaza intensifies and solidifies.
When Hammas won the Palestian election, the electorate was sending a message to its government and to the world with their only "weapon" left: the ballot. Hammas--and Hezballah--have provided most social welfare and health services to Palestineans for decades. The Arafat hierarchy seemed to Palestineans more interested in representing Palestine to the world and used revenues to buy friends or to fund personal pockets. I think that Hammas' election majority reflected how the households and extended Palestinean families would support the political group that has given its domestic efforts to bettering Palestinean lives.
When Israel's governing coalition survived General Sharon's departure, the leading party Likud continued Sharon's aggressive style of creating "facts on the ground" for continuing peace negotiations (co-existence principles?) with the Palestinian Authority. We do not hear of any further Israeli settlements being evacuated and key cities on the West Bank continue to live under military rule. Likud's hardliners found affirmation for their positions on the Occupied Territories and Palestineans in general: Hammas continues its guiding mission to eliminate Israel from this part of the Levant.
Both Hammas and Likud were just waiting for an excuse to re-ignite attacks across the Wall. I wonder if Hesballah saw a chance to strike at an Israel distracted by the conflict with Hammas.
When Hammas won the Palestian election, the electorate was sending a message to its government and to the world with their only "weapon" left: the ballot. Hammas--and Hezballah--have provided most social welfare and health services to Palestineans for decades. The Arafat hierarchy seemed to Palestineans more interested in representing Palestine to the world and used revenues to buy friends or to fund personal pockets. I think that Hammas' election majority reflected how the households and extended Palestinean families would support the political group that has given its domestic efforts to bettering Palestinean lives.
When Israel's governing coalition survived General Sharon's departure, the leading party Likud continued Sharon's aggressive style of creating "facts on the ground" for continuing peace negotiations (co-existence principles?) with the Palestinian Authority. We do not hear of any further Israeli settlements being evacuated and key cities on the West Bank continue to live under military rule. Likud's hardliners found affirmation for their positions on the Occupied Territories and Palestineans in general: Hammas continues its guiding mission to eliminate Israel from this part of the Levant.
Both Hammas and Likud were just waiting for an excuse to re-ignite attacks across the Wall. I wonder if Hesballah saw a chance to strike at an Israel distracted by the conflict with Hammas.
