Once again the same images. The missiles hit, the buildings collapse, screaming people run through the streets crying for revenge, mothers stand over the dead bodies in despair, the UN calls for a cease fire, the usual demonstrators protest and condemn Israel while Bush declares his understanding, "excessive force" is heard once again - in other words nothing has changed. Why? Who is at fault? Is Israel really the big bully described by one Israeli protester? What exactly has Israel done to lead up to this latest confrontation? Did it come about because Israel tore up all the homes of the Jewish settlers and forced them to leave Gaza two years ago? Some in Israel would say yes because it gave control of Gaza to the Hamas. Whatever, the fact is that Israel does not occupy even one inch of Gaza. So what exactly does Hamas want? What brought on this latest episode of the 62 year old war waged against Israel?
The reality is that once again the Palestinian people have been betrayed by their own - in this case Hamas.
It is clear that for Hamas, misery, in this case of their own people, is a diplomatic weapon.
Recent months have seen tentative steps developing toward an agreement in the conflict. The last thing Hamas wants is for these to progress into possible reality.
They know that any Israeli attack, no matter how justified, will bring about massive protests in the Islamic world. So provoking Israel becomes a major strategic goal no matter how much misery it brings on their people.
Hamas has one goal - total destruction of Israel. They declare officially and unofficially almost every day. It is a non-stop mantra that infects everything they do. "No recognition of Israel's right to exist" is the continuous message.
Who pays the price for this impossible ideology? The Palestinian population trapped under the domination of this extremist force. It is no different than the Taliban were, and continue to be, in Afghanistan - the imposition of their vision of radical Islam on the population whether they want it or not.
Need proof? Look at their actions for the past few years since they wrenched complete control in a bloody coup against the Palestinian Authority.
Did they use the massive aid that poured in from abroad to rebuild Gaza and develop the economy? No.
War of terror
Instead a war of terror was declared on Israel. Daily rockets fired daily indiscriminately at Israeli towns; suicide bombers sent to kill Israeli civilians and attacks on the border crossings between Israel and Gaza.
This latter is the most cynical of all their strategies. These border crossings are the lifeline used by their own people. Thousands of Gazans daily passed through on their way to earn a living in Israel.They are the main route for bringing in food, fuel and building materials as well as the means for Gaza farmers to export their produce.
So Hamas sent suicide bombers to blow up the crossings.
Forcing Israel to close these crossings is, in their eyes, a huge diplomatic victory. Protestors around the world condemn Israel for not allowing the Palestinians to earn a living, for closing of supplies. No mention is made in the world media of the constant attacks by Hamas militants on these crossings. No mention is made of the fuel that Israel supplies for the power stations being diverted by Hamas for their military vehicles. No mention is made of the cement for civilian building being hijacked for military uses.
This current war has little to do with the overall Palestinian Israel conflict.
Hamas has no interest in seeing any settlement being reached except that of Israel going out of existence. Like a small child who engages in self-destructive acts in order to get attention, Hamas provokes Israel. Like the Taliban in Afghanistan and the radical Islamists in Iraq, they will sacrifice their own people on the altar of an ideology that is hopeless.
The only reason Hamas still remain in power this morning is because Israel,despite its power, is not prepared to destroy thousands of civilians to get them. So we are faced with a relatively small group of terrorists holding a whole population hostage to their madness.
No sovereign nation can stand by while rockets rain down daily on its towns. Rooting out this evil must be done whether in Gaza, Afghanistan or Iraq. Understanding the root cause is the first step to eradication.
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