After three weeks of nerve-racking waiting, the IDF embarked on what appears to be a smart and powerful ground operation. Not everything is yet known about what the IDF is doing in the heart of Gaza, and that's a good thing. But as the prime minister, defense minister and Gantz have made clear, the action is necessary to eradicate from the world the absolute evil called Hamas.
Mahmoud Abbas: "Anyone who thinks that peace will be established in the Middle East without the Palestinian people gaining recognition is mistaken" // Photo: Reuters
The performance of the three last night was good. It also conveyed unity, and also made it clear that the three understand the gravity of the situation - when they talk about a second war of independence and the patience that will be required.
Mahmoud Abbas. Weak against Hamas, Photo: GettyImages
But while the people of Israel, its fighters and leaders are focused on the military effort, in the political arena they are not waiting. As reported by Israel Hayom and public statements by Presidents Biden and Macron, Western capitals are already working on returning the PA to Gaza the day after. As if that day is near, and as if Abu Mazen is part of the solution, not part of the problem.
The friendly presidents, and they are friendly, are mistaken, because Abbas has proven that he has no ability to fight Hamas. Hamas threw him and his regime from Gaza's rooftops in 2007. This happened after Abbas lost to Hamas in the elections a year earlier.
Under its nose in Judea and Samaria, the organization gained immense popularity to the point of victories among student unions on various campuses. In other words, Biden's statement that "Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people" is simply unrealistic. And since the PA is so weak in standing up to Hamas, there are serious reasons to fear that if Gaza is handed over to it, the murderous movement will reemerge. Beyond the laxity of its rule, the PA has a significant part in incentivizing terrorism. Whether in the famous terror salaries, in education to kill Jews from kindergarten, or in the absence of condemnation of Hamas' war crimes. The bottom line is that the corrupt PA does not meet any international standard of normative rule. On which do you place your trust?!
Netanyahu. Broadcast unity, photo: Reuters
Israel's political system needs to start voicing these messages now, because the world is not waiting. If we do not act now, we will find ourselves in a political corner at the end of the fighting.
The friendly presidents, and they are friendly, are mistaken, because Abbas has proven that he has no ability to fight Hamas. Hamas threw him and his regime from Gaza's rooftops in 2007. This happened after Abbas lost to Hamas in the elections a year earlier
To prevent this from happening, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, Ambassador to Washington Mike Herzog and other senior Israeli officials should already say that there is a serious problem with the thesis of returning Mahmoud Abbas to Gaza.
They must emphasize that in order to achieve true peace, we must provide in-depth solutions to problems, not chew formulas that have failed. Another proven failure is the reliance on UNRWA, which perpetuates the conflict instead of resolving it. Israel must demand the removal of this hostile organization from Gaza. Without this minimum, no diplomatic move will bear fruit.
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