Hamas Ditches Damascus | Via Meadia

blogs.the-american-interest.com1/28/12

But now Hamas has options. Turkey and Egypt are getting in closer touch with their inner Islamism. Fatah, corrupt and weak, has lost the aura that came from Arafat's presence at its head. And Assad is a liability.

Peres lauds Erdogan efforts on Shalit – Ynetnews

Russia Beyond The Headlines

Peres lauds Erdogan efforts on Shalit Ynetnews PM's negotiator: Mission yet to be accomplished Will the Shalit deal help improve the Israel -Turkey relations? President Shimon Peres used his public meeting with Israeli negotiator David Meidan on Wednesday to laud Ankara for its contribution to the … TURKISH PRESS REVIEW ON OCT 13www.worldbulletin.net all 9 news articles »

New information reveals that Shalit went on hunger strike shortly before his release, which caused Hamas to fear that they might lose their ‘secret weapon’, which in turn caused them to compromise their exchange deal.

Shalit apparently reached a point of malnutrition that put him in a life threatening situation.

An intelligence source said that “there were those in Hamas who feared that the extreme conditions under which Shalit was being held would mean they could not offer him the help he needed and he would die on them and so they compromised over the details of the prisoner exchange deal”.

And this would explain why he was so thin when released.

Hamas Desperately Needed A Political Boost

The spotlight has been fully on Mahmoud Abbas following his recent appearance at the United Nations General Assembly and his ongoing meetings around the world with high ranking officials and leaders.

And the so called Arab Spring put Hamas in an embarrassing situation with several countries.

In short, Hamas absolutely needed to present Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank with some kind of important political achievement.

Syria, Egypt And Hamas

Hamas is now in the uncomfortable position of having to support both the Syrian masses and the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt because many of those taking part in the uprisings solidly identify with its values, whilst Syria’s ruling regime supports Hamas and acts as its patron.

The Hamas-Fatach Agreement

Hamas’ response to the turmoil in Syria, was to attempt to strengthen its ties with Egypt, and the internal Hamas-Fatah reconciliation agreement was in part a signal to others that it was finally open to compromise

So as soon as Hamas signed the reconciliation deal with Fatah, a path for dialogue with Egyptian intelligence was created and the heads of Egyptian intelligence began to exert heavy pressure on the movement in an attempt to push forward other issues as well.

Egypt And Israel

The terror attacks near to Eilat in August pushed Israel and Egypt closer, and they began discussions on a series of security-related matters.

Egypt wanted to prove that it was still a central player in the post-Mubarak era, and was still able to fulfill the role of the responsible mediator, and its ongoing dialogue with Israel was a factor in promoting the prisoner swap deal.

The Power Struggle Between Hamas And The PA Played Their Part

As far as Hamas is concerned, the Shalit deal will enable it to bring to the Palestinian street a spontaneous wave of joy, because in Palestinian eyes, the prisoners issue is one of the most important matters on the agenda and it enjoys a consensus.

The deal will allow Hamas to show that it too has achieved a national success that will challenge Abbas’ achievements, and the prisoner exchange agreement will be presented on the Palestinian street as a real victory that was a result of Hamas’ armed resistance, in contrast to the diplomatic path being undertaken by Abbas.

Hamas will further argue that although the diplomatic path manages to win international support, it fails to prove itself on the ground, in everyday life, and Hamas was smart in insisting that half of the prisoners that will be released are from the West Bank.

Among the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners set to be released are hundreds of terrorists with blood on their hands, and they will be received on the Palestinian street as heroes, and Abbas, although he welcomed the deal is well aware of the wave of Hamas popularity that is expected to consume the street once the prisoners come home.

Will The Deal Mean More Terror?

Both Israel and Hamas have managed to create a real political achievement, but the big question is whether this wave of support will eventually create more terrorism.

A Reason For Optimism?

The Palestinians know that today, more than ever before, that they now have much to lose, and a person who has much to lose is far less dangerous than somebody that has nothing to lose.

Related posts:

1. Natanyahu’s speech left the PA and Hamas Unmasked
2. Will Hamas’s Strategy of Escalation Succeed?
3. The Wall Of Lies

Natanyahu Makes A Master Play

I’m simply amazed at how many supposed political pundits misread what happened in Jerusalem during Biden’s recent visit.

Journalists whom you’d imagine would know better almost jumped with joy and wrote such nonsense as;

“Bibi angry and embarrassed”.

“Bibi apologizes for unbelievable gaffe”.

Ehud Barak is angry”.

“Red faces in Jerusalem”.

Etc. etc.

A Master Play

The announcement, during Biden’s visit that plans to build 1,600 homes in East Jerusalem, had been approved was obviously orchestrated and both Bibi and Eli Yishai (who is a very astute politician) played excellent poker.

Joe Biden most likely doesn’t not know it, but the Palestinians certainly remember that a similar Israeli maneuver was used in order to get a green light for East Jerusalem’s Har Homa neighborhood.

What Really Went Down

If you find it hard to believe that the announcement was premeditated then just look at the end results.

Following Bibi’s apology for the announcement, and his statement that actual construction in Ramat Shlomo would not start for several years Biden said at Tel Aviv University:

"The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now".

and added that,

“The U.S. has no better friend than Israel”.

So intended or not, what Biden publicly implied was that the timing of the announcement was embarrassing, but the intended building in a few years time would be OK.

Thus Israel essentially received an American green light for its building plans in East Jerusalem.

Israel obviously doesn’t need a green light to build but feels much better when it gets it.

The Cherry On The Cake

Prior to Biden’s arrival, the Arab League had just recommended that the Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas agree to Washington’s proposal for indirect talks with Israel, but now, instead of being able to leave with an announcement that the talks have officially begun, Biden left with the news that Abu Mazen wouldn’t agree to talks and that the Arab League had suspended its recommendation.

Biden’s visit to Israel was intended to pressure Netanyahu to advance negotiations, but Abu Mazen is now refusing to enter into talks and the world is instead looking to the Arab League summit in Tripoli which is due to kick off in just under two weeks, to see what it proposes.

I was recently amazed at how many journalists bought into the idea that Mossad sent 28 plus operatives to Dubai to exterminate a cockroach, and never questioned why Mossad would use the names of Israeli residents etc.

In short, it’s clear that most political writers would be better off writing about some other subject, almost any other subject than politics, because they obviously haven’t got a clue when it comes to interpreting politicians and their plays.

Related posts:

1. Israel – The Green And Blue Lines Examined
2. Israel Recognizes South Sudan
3. Does Israel Depend On American Aid?

The White House issued the following statement from Press Secretary Robert Gibbs in response to Sunday’s speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:

 "The President welcomes the important step forward in Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech. The President is committed to two states, a Jewish state of Israel and an independent Palestine, in the historic homeland of both peoples. He believes this solution can and must ensure both Israel’s security and the fulfillment of the Palestinians’ legitimate aspirations for a viable state, and he welcomes Prime Minister Netanyahu’s endorsement of that goal. The President will continue working with all parties – Israel, the Palestinian Authority, Arab states, and our Quartet partners – to see that they fulfill their obligations and responsibilities necessary to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive regional peace".

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, whose country holds the EU presidency, said Monday that while Netanyahu’s comments on Sunday needed more analysis "the acceptance of a Palestinian state is there".

Even the Huffington Post which is not known for pro-Israeli sentiment, had good things to say, and I did have a link to their article, but had to remove it because they don’t keep their links up to date.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed a Palestinian state beside Israel for the first time on Sunday, reversing himself under US pressure but attaching conditions such as having no army that the Palestinians …”

The Palestinians however condemned the speech almost before Natanyahu had finished it.

Palestinian Reactions;

PA: Speech dealt deadly blow to peace process / Ali Waked

Palestinian officials say "Netanyahu’s speech backs settlers while Hamas says it is racist and extremist".

Abbas aide urges world to shun Netanyahu over speech;

‘International community should confront this policy, through which Netanyahu wants to kill off any chance for peace,’ Yasser Abed Rabbo

World powers should isolate Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after he unveiled tough terms for a Middle East peace accord, an aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday.

So what did most of the world like that the Paliestinians found so "racist and extremist", and "killing off any chance for peace"?

Natanyahu stressed sevral conditions that would have to be accepted before Israel would agree to a Palistinian state in its backyard and the major five were;

1) Palestinians must accept Israel as a Jewish state.

2) Any Palestinian state must be demilitarized, without an air force, full-fledged army or heavy weapons.

3) Arabs that were displaced in 1948 will not be allowed to return to Israel proper.

3) Palestinians may not sign treaties with powers hostile to Israel.

4) Jerusalem must remain the united capital of Israel with continued religious freedom for all faiths.

So what exactly are the problems that the Palestinians have with the above?

1) Do they have a problem accepting a Jewish state?

Abbas showed schoolkids just three weeks ago a map of a future Palestine and it covered all of Israel. He told the kids that he would NEVER accept a Jewish state.

2) Why would a future Palestinian state need a fully fleged army, an air force or heavy weapons? Who would attack it?

3) This has been known and accepted by everyone involved in negotiatons from the outset, and the PA has never expected more than a token number of low thousands to be allowed into Israel and to be given Israeli citizenship.

4) Every country in the world would endorse that.

5) Might been seen as a possible sticking point, but Jerusalem is not mentioned once in the Koran, and Israel is offering "continued religious freedom for all faiths".

Netanyahu basically said what the whole would knew, but hesitated to say.

Perhaps this blog, "It didn’t take long for the hounds of hate to sound ..

Explains the near panic, and disarray that the Palestinians are exhibiting today.

The Palestinians refuse a Palestinian state every time they’re offered one, suggesting that they really want something else instead.

Bibi’s speech was brave and honest in the extreme, and it leaves the PA and Hamas, unmasked, exposed and naked.

They have no answer to his speech, and now the US, the EU and the rest of the world will watch them flounder and wonder why no one spoke the truth before.

Related posts:

1. Obama Will Err If He Tries To Prove A Nuclear Iran-Palestinian Linkage
2. Netanyahu’s June 14 Speech
3. Why Did Hamas Suddenly Agree To Release Shalit?

He won’t put it in such blunt terms of course, but will talk of the supposed linkage that exists between Israel making peace with the Palestinians, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Obama will unsuccessfully try to prove, that there is a connection between an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, and Iran’s mullahs giving up their quest for nuclear weapons.

If Obama takes this tack, which is he expected to, he will fail miserably because there is no connection whatsoever between the two issues, and Netanyahu will correctly remain unconvinced.

Obama may then try gentle pressure, which is the most that he can use, but the facts are clear and Obama surely knows them and will respect Netanyahu’s rejection.

Did Iran set out to get nuclear weapons in order to help the Palestinians get a State? Of course not.

Has Iran even faintly suggested that it will halt its pursuit of nuclear weapons if the Palestinians get a State. Never.

Abbas controls nothing, and can hardly order a pizza.

He would lose the West Bank to Hamas in a matter of weeks if Israel were to hand it over to him, and Hamas stated as recently as yesterday that it will never recognize Israel.

Where would this new State be, and who would control it?

What is more, even under Abbas’s moderate guidance, Palestinian children are still raised on a diet of hatred in their schools, and specially made cartoons and videos that glorify dying a martyr’s death and others that show Jews drinking babies blood are common place.

There are presently fifty seven Islamic states, but Abbas is recently on record as saying that he will “never accept Israel as a Jewish state”.

Some in the U.S. would like to coerce Israel into some sort of two state deal, simply to see how Iran would respond, since there is not much appetite for either an Iran with nuclear bombs or launching an attack against it at the present time.

Netanyahu is a seasoned politician however, and knowing that Obama cannot force him, he will refuse to allow Israel to be used as a guinea pig.

Related posts:

1. What Would Trigger A US Strike On Iran’s Nuclear Facilities?
2. Obama’s Israeli-Palestinian Plans
3. The West Must Stop Iran From Obtaining Nuclear Weapons