A Pointless War Has Led to a Moral Defeat for "Israel"

Source: The Guardian, 18-01-2009

In historical terms, it is impossible to separate "Israel's" offensive against Hamas in Gaza from the long narrative of conflict and mutual grievance in the region.

In geographic terms, the war over a tiny plot of land cannot be detached from the wider involvement and strategic interests of other countries: Syria, Egypt, the US, Iran.
All of which makes it difficult to judge where - even if a unilateral "Israeli" ceasefire holds - the war really begins and ends.

That fact alone explains why the operation represents a defeat for "Israel", as was always likely to be the outcome. The notion that the country's security problems can be resolved by the unilateral use of extreme force is a persistent delusion among "Israeli" politicians.

In this case, the problem was perceived to be Hamas rocket fire into southern "Israel" (Occupied Palestine); the solution was judged to be a war against Hamas. That analysis did not allow for the vital, humane recognition that, in densely populated Gaza, an all-out war against Hamas is, by necessity, an attack on the civilian population.

Even on its own terms, the campaign has failed. "Israeli" authorities will insist that they have limited the ability of Hamas to launch rocket attacks. But the ostensible war aim was destroying that capability completely.

"Israel" will also claim that its campaign has exposed a lack of support for Hamas in many Arab capitals; that Hamas' position as the ruling authority in Gaza has been undermined; and that Hamas has been revealed as little more than a terrorist proxy acting on behalf of and armed by Syria and Iran.

But the reality is that the status of Hamas as the preferred vehicle for Palestinian resistance to "Israeli" occupation has been enhanced by the indiscriminate brutality of the military assault.

Meanwhile, that status guarantees the resurgence, in some form, of armed response, including rocket fire and (so-called) "terrorist" (resistance) attacks on "Israeli" (occupied Palestinian) soil. It is possible that Hamas' military capability has been drastically reduced. But even when "Israel" had full command of Gaza's external borders, it could not stop the trade in smuggled weapons. Sadly (for ‘Israel'), Hamas will re-arm with or without a ceasefire agreement.

Meanwhile, any increased consideration of Iranian or Syrian sponsorship of (so-called) terrorism will pale against global outrage at the extraordinary disregard shown by "Israeli" forces for the lives of Palestinian civilians. It is quite possible, as the Observer today reports, that an "Israeli" withdrawal will reveal evidence of actions deserving indictment as war crimes. Those allegations must be independently investigated.

"Israel's" allies in the west, chiefly the US, have traditionally defended the country on the grounds that it is a democracy besieged by despotic regimes and (so-called) 'terrorists'. But while "Israeli" 'citizens' (occupation settlers) do enjoy immense political and social freedom, those values do not automatically prevent the state from committing atrocities.
The fact of "Israeli" (alleged) democracy is not a reason to resist negotiations with Hamas. That was true before this pointless, brutal war and will remain so afterwards.