A Pointless War Has Led to a Moral Defeat for Israel
Editorial
January 18, 2009 "The Guardian" -- - 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; 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 terrorist attacks on Israeli 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, Hamas will re-arm with or without a ceasefire
agreement.
Meanwhile, any increased consideration of Iranian or Syrian sponsorship of
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
terrorists. But while Israeli citizens do enjoy immense political and social
freedom, those values do not automatically prevent the state from committing
atrocities.
The fact of Israeli democracy is not a reason to resist negotiations with
Hamas. That was true before this pointless, brutal war and will remain so
afterwards.
© Guardian News and Media Limited 2009
