People speak as if a ceasefire will bring about the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, dead or alive. That is not what is on offer.
Instead, there’s to be an exchange of at least 10 to 1 imprisoned terrorists for each hostage with Israel having no veto power over which terrorist is being released. You don’t need the powers of prophecy to know how that’s going to work out. And Hamas is not required to provide proof of life (after over nine months) nor even a full accounting of who they have. If Israel believes Hamas retains hostages and Hamas just denies it, what is the mechanism for accountability?
And putting all those matters aside, any agreement that allows Hamas to remain in power will signal the political end not only of the PA but of any group of Palestinians who seek peace (not that any have put their heads over that particular parapet at the moment).
The other certainty with Hamas in control is that this ceasefire will prove as “permanent” as all the previous ones Hamas broke. No one in the West paid attention to Arafat when he likened the Oslo Accords to the Treaty of Hudaybiya. This “hudna” gained by Hamas will allow it to regroup, rearm and initiate future hostilities when it feels the time is right … and once again Israel will be blamed for defending itself in an incorrect manner.
This is a tragedy that is eminently foreseeable and, worse, avoidable. But it seems the world is happy to have Jewish blood shed to protect their own. That hasn’t worked in the past and there’s no reason to imagine a different outcome going forward.
People speak as if a ceasefire will bring about the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas, dead or alive. That is not what is on offer.
Instead, there’s to be an exchange of at least 10 to 1 imprisoned terrorists for each hostage with Israel having no veto power over which terrorist is being released. You don’t need the powers of prophecy to know how that’s going to work out. And Hamas is not required to provide proof of life (after over nine months) nor even a full accounting of who they have. If Israel believes Hamas retains hostages and Hamas just denies it, what is the mechanism for accountability?
And putting all those matters aside, any agreement that allows Hamas to remain in power will signal the political end not only of the PA but of any group of Palestinians who seek peace (not that any have put their heads over that particular parapet at the moment).
The other certainty with Hamas in control is that this ceasefire will prove as “permanent” as all the previous ones Hamas broke. No one in the West paid attention to Arafat when he likened the Oslo Accords to the Treaty of Hudaybiya. This “hudna” gained by Hamas will allow it to regroup, rearm and initiate future hostilities when it feels the time is right … and once again Israel will be blamed for defending itself in an incorrect manner.
This is a tragedy that is eminently foreseeable and, worse, avoidable. But it seems the world is happy to have Jewish blood shed to protect their own. That hasn’t worked in the past and there’s no reason to imagine a different outcome going forward.
Thanks for your comments Charles. I am afraid you are correct.