One year after popular elections gave Hamas control of the Palestinian Territories, Israel has initiated peace talks once again by orchestrating a ceasefire, a withdrawal from Gaza and an offer of major concessions. Israel's government and the Hamas-led Palestinian government are largely unpopular with their respective electorates, yet many view this overture as a fresh opportunity to make peace. And let's face it, if there is to be peace, it must be made by Israel; the Palestinians have never fully attempted to settle this conflict in the six decades it has existed. That is not to say the Palestinians have not signed a peace treaty from time to time. They have, but only as a guise to re-supply, re-arm and re-attack. It is the worst example of disingenuous negotiation since the Nazis made peace with the Soviets.
Sunday's ceasefire, agreed upon by Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, was a positive step by both leaders in expressing the desire to return to the negotiating table. However, the Palestinians quickly violated this nascent ceasefire by sending Qassam rockets from Gaza into Israel Sunday and again Monday, followed by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and al-Aqsa Martyr's Brigade all claiming responsibility. The Israeli Defense Force did not retaliate, as Prime Minister Olmert urged restraint with the hope that the Palestinian security forces would police the terrorist elements within their ranks.
Yesterday, Olmert continued this push for peace by offering a major package of concessions to the Palestinians: unfreezing funds, releasing hundreds of prisoners, immediately abandoning many West Bank settlements, providing economic assistance, and reducing road checkpoints. The only requirements of the Palestinians are that Hamas must first release captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, fully enforce the cease-fire among the terrorist groups, and return to the negotiating table in good faith to reach a settlement.
Any expectation that the Hamas-controlled government will make the necessary commitment to peace is a farce. A bona fide two-state solution will require Hamas to first recognize Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and accept all previous accords. Given the fact that Hamas was founded to destroy Israel and has consistently rejected these principles since they assumed power last March, it appears unlikely that some precipitous change is on the horizon.
Even if we ignore the cease-fire violations that have already occurred, the terrorist groups within Gaza will simply use this cease-fire to restock their supplies of Qassam rockets, just as they did after Israel's 2005 unilateral withdrawal from Gaza. Furthermore, the military wing of Hamas will use this week's withdrawal as another example of the "success" achieved by terrorism and grow bolder in their crimes against humanity. Khaled Mashaal, the political leader of Hamas, has already stated that if negotiations do not lead to a Palestinian state agreeable to Hamas within six months, Hamas will "launch a third intifada" against Israel.
Mahmoud Abbas, Chairman of the Palestinian Authority and a member of the Fatah Party, a political rival of Hamas, is being used by Hamas in a bait-and-switch game to lure the Israelis into a demilitarized cease-fire. Unfortunately, Abbas has no credibility or power within his government, and his calls for a peaceful two-state solution are mere platitudes. Hamas will manipulate Israel's good intentions and willingness to talk with Abbas as a pretext for buying time and ammunition for this pre-planned third intifada.
Peace will never be achieved if Israel is the only party willing to sacrifice to come to an accord. Therefore, Olmert must stop making generous concessions to a party unwilling to reciprocate.
We, the international community, must continue to hold Hamas to the same standards to which all other governments are held: that is, respect sovereignty, renounce state terrorism, uphold the validity of previous contracts and treaties and work for the betterment of its population. Until Hamas changes, Israel should not. Yet Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, still reeling from his botched war in Lebanon last summer, will cling to any peace prospect he can get. Unfortunately, he's clinging to a fantasy: that Hamas, openly bent on Israel's destruction, will become moderate.
It was said that the late Yasser Arafat would "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." Yasser Arafat would no doubt be proud of today's Hamas-led Palestinian Authority. Now the only question is how many more opportunities the Palestinians should be given.
Will Smith ([email protected]) is a freshman majoring in political science and religious studies.
