Time for Hamas to shut up
Youssef M. Ibrahim
August 23, 2005
The Palestinians are on the verge of a great moment in their history as Israel pulls all its forces and settlers, unilaterally , out of Gaza making this part of Palestine free for the first time since 1948.
Nothing would be more irresponsible than actions to interrupt that historic moment by the various movements, particularly Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, and others like it who are out of control in Palestine.
Attacking the vastly superior Israeli armed forces as they pull out with toy rockets or settlements and villages on the borders with Gaza, or suicide bombers inside the occupied West Bank would be a criminal irresponsible act, in fact suicide for Palestinians.
Therefore it was alarming to read an interview on Wednesday with Mahmoud Al Zahar the leader of Hamas asserting in Asharq Al Awsat newspaper that: ..."shall never recognize a state by the name or its right to own a single inch in Palestine. This is what our Muslim religion dictates. Palestine is the property of Islam and Muslims. It is not, repeat not, owned by Palestinian nor by Arabs. To say the least this is a highly unwise, almost criminal, kind of statement on so many counts."
Mr. Al Zahar cancels the right of Palestinians by linking their fate to an undefined Islamic world. He also takes the Arabs out of the equation altogether. So, tell me doctor: Are Indonesian Muslims or Malaysians now part of the deal to liberate Palestinians?
Does he forget it was the Palestinians who have suffered 40 years of Israeli occupation and humiliation? They -- and they alone -- should have the right to make their decisions about recognizing or not recognizing Israel. Not the Muslim world and not even the Arabs.
Mr. Al Zahar's inflammatory rhetoric is equally unwise because he represents only his movement -- Hamas -- only one part of the Palestinian resistance that is a minority if compared to the Fatah movement alone, not to mention others like the Popular and the Democratic Fronts, for example.
Above all, Zahar shows a Jihadist dictatorial tune out of sync with these times. Did he forget those same Palestinian people have chosen, in free elections Mahmoud Abbas, (Abu Mazen), to be their president and also voted for a national assembly that makes decisions?
Who chose Al Zahar?
Hamas has no right to confiscate this choice, declare itself sole custodian of Palestinians, and furthermore divorce the issue the Arab world to declare the property of some amorphous "Muslim World."
Young Muslim jihadists followers will take to mean they can launch rockets at Israeli soldiers and at Israel.
Then what?
Is Mr. Al Zahar prepared to abort the entire Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and deprive Gazans dreaming a little free air, freedom of movements, end of checkpoints, air raids, killings, arbitrary arrests, and unemployment? What is worse, is that Al Zahar also pledged to "continuing" the armed struggle in the West Bank, once the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is complete.
Armed struggle? Which armed struggle?
If attacked by rockets or suicide bombers, Israel does not even have to re-enter Gaza. It will crush it from the air and seal its sea and land borders.
This is 2005, not the 1960s and Vietnam. The world, Dr. Al Zahar, has changed. To be perfectly frank, the Arab world, let alone the Muslim world you talk about have pretty much walked away from any concepts of armed conflict with Israel. Syria has not fought for its occupied land one day since 1973. Lebanon's Hezbollah is becoming a political party. And, Islamic suicide bombers, as you know very well, have now become a blotch on the name of Islam and Muslims everywhere.
Back in the '60s Vietnam was an "armed struggle" because tens of millions of Vietnamese backed by a billion Chinese and tons of Russian arms fought 500,000 American soldiers stranded 12,000 miles stranded away from their home.
Gaza and the West Bank are not Vietnam. The West Bank is practically part of Israel. Right in it and next to it, is the home base of an Israeli army that commands hundreds of tanks and planes and as many as 500,000 soldiers if it mobilizes. Do you think Syria, Jordan or Egypt will come to help?
Liberating Palestinian is now a matter or diplomacy. Even the United States now stands behind further withdrawals by Israel, through diplomacy.
Al Zahar and people like him should wake up or shut up. Stop inciting for the impossible. It is time to have the real interest of Palestinian people at heart. Most Palestinians do not wish to become martyrs. A lot of young kids want to have a future, jobs, liberty -- a chance to live after years of suffocation.
Please keep your angel of death promises of blood to yourself.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
Nothing would be more irresponsible than actions to interrupt that historic moment by the various movements, particularly Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, and others like it who are out of control in Palestine.
Attacking the vastly superior Israeli armed forces as they pull out with toy rockets or settlements and villages on the borders with Gaza, or suicide bombers inside the occupied West Bank would be a criminal irresponsible act, in fact suicide for Palestinians.
Therefore it was alarming to read an interview on Wednesday with Mahmoud Al Zahar the leader of Hamas asserting in Asharq Al Awsat newspaper that: ..."shall never recognize a state by the name or its right to own a single inch in Palestine. This is what our Muslim religion dictates. Palestine is the property of Islam and Muslims. It is not, repeat not, owned by Palestinian nor by Arabs. To say the least this is a highly unwise, almost criminal, kind of statement on so many counts."
Mr. Al Zahar cancels the right of Palestinians by linking their fate to an undefined Islamic world. He also takes the Arabs out of the equation altogether. So, tell me doctor: Are Indonesian Muslims or Malaysians now part of the deal to liberate Palestinians?
Does he forget it was the Palestinians who have suffered 40 years of Israeli occupation and humiliation? They -- and they alone -- should have the right to make their decisions about recognizing or not recognizing Israel. Not the Muslim world and not even the Arabs.
Mr. Al Zahar's inflammatory rhetoric is equally unwise because he represents only his movement -- Hamas -- only one part of the Palestinian resistance that is a minority if compared to the Fatah movement alone, not to mention others like the Popular and the Democratic Fronts, for example.
Above all, Zahar shows a Jihadist dictatorial tune out of sync with these times. Did he forget those same Palestinian people have chosen, in free elections Mahmoud Abbas, (Abu Mazen), to be their president and also voted for a national assembly that makes decisions?
Who chose Al Zahar?
Hamas has no right to confiscate this choice, declare itself sole custodian of Palestinians, and furthermore divorce the issue the Arab world to declare the property of some amorphous "Muslim World."
Young Muslim jihadists followers will take to mean they can launch rockets at Israeli soldiers and at Israel.
Then what?
Is Mr. Al Zahar prepared to abort the entire Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and deprive Gazans dreaming a little free air, freedom of movements, end of checkpoints, air raids, killings, arbitrary arrests, and unemployment? What is worse, is that Al Zahar also pledged to "continuing" the armed struggle in the West Bank, once the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza is complete.
Armed struggle? Which armed struggle?
If attacked by rockets or suicide bombers, Israel does not even have to re-enter Gaza. It will crush it from the air and seal its sea and land borders.
This is 2005, not the 1960s and Vietnam. The world, Dr. Al Zahar, has changed. To be perfectly frank, the Arab world, let alone the Muslim world you talk about have pretty much walked away from any concepts of armed conflict with Israel. Syria has not fought for its occupied land one day since 1973. Lebanon's Hezbollah is becoming a political party. And, Islamic suicide bombers, as you know very well, have now become a blotch on the name of Islam and Muslims everywhere.
Back in the '60s Vietnam was an "armed struggle" because tens of millions of Vietnamese backed by a billion Chinese and tons of Russian arms fought 500,000 American soldiers stranded 12,000 miles stranded away from their home.
Gaza and the West Bank are not Vietnam. The West Bank is practically part of Israel. Right in it and next to it, is the home base of an Israeli army that commands hundreds of tanks and planes and as many as 500,000 soldiers if it mobilizes. Do you think Syria, Jordan or Egypt will come to help?
Liberating Palestinian is now a matter or diplomacy. Even the United States now stands behind further withdrawals by Israel, through diplomacy.
Al Zahar and people like him should wake up or shut up. Stop inciting for the impossible. It is time to have the real interest of Palestinian people at heart. Most Palestinians do not wish to become martyrs. A lot of young kids want to have a future, jobs, liberty -- a chance to live after years of suffocation.
Please keep your angel of death promises of blood to yourself.
Copyright 2005 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
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