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Is Palestine Heading for Peace?
By:
Kourosh Zaim
Victory of Hamas
in the Palestinian elections has alarmed many western
politicians and observers. Alarmed, because Hamas is a
fighting militia organization with mandate to free all
occupied land of Palestine. Considered a terrorist
organization by Israel and the U.S., for its uncompromising
stand against Israel and peace negotiations, and for leading
the Intifada, Hamas itself is now in a bind.
Having won
majority of the seats in parliament, Hamas must form a
government. If they form government, they must learn how to
govern and to speak diplomatic language, something they know
nothing about. They only know how to fight and how to shout
slogans with clenched fists. Unlike uttering slogans and
fighting cry, governing is not a simple task, as the Fath
Organization learned it in the hard way last decade as they
turned from a militia group to a government. They governed
very badly as militias took bureaucratic posts they were not
trained or educated for and, hungry for good life and
trappings of authority, created another one of the corrupt
civil services in the region. Fath guns were thus silenced.
Now, it is Hamas'
turn. No wonder Fath party, asked by Hamas to continue with
the task of governing, refused. Fath government was marred
by Hamas militancy. Their peace negotiations and agreements
with Israel were continually disrupted by Hamas' refusal to
cooperate. Now, Fath wants Hamas to occupy the hot seat and
see what governing involves.
The problem of
governance is the least of Hamas worries. If they become
government, they would have to abandon a few of the
principles their existence is based on. Refusal to recognize
Israel's right of existence in one. This stand will cut off
International monetary aid to Palestine which is what
greases the wheels of economy. Palestinian economy is in a
state of collapse as is. Loss of foreign aid will send the
economy in a tail spin.
Second problem
is the Hamas Covenants, which considers the whole of
Palestine as the holy land of Moslems and must be vacated by
the infidels. Israel also considers the land it occupies as
the Promised Land. This means an eternal state of war with
Israel. That is, even if they ever sign a peace treaty, the
claim on the land Israel is on will remain.
Third is that
they cannot, according to the Covenants, enter a peace
agreement with Israel unless all the land occupied during
the 1967 war is returned. This might take a very long time
during which the state of war will persist. Considering the
great influence Israel commands over the Palestinian economy
in terms of trade and employment, the Palestinians will
continue to be on the losing side.
Last, but not
least, is the problem of converting Hamas resistance
fighters into Hamas bureaucrats. What do you do with a large
number of unemployed who wield guns and demand their share
of the spoils of victory?
All in all, I am
optimistic that Hamas will go the route of Fath, without the
corruption I hope. After a few months of bickering and fist
flying, they find a face-saving way to get them out of the
bind they are in. Modify the Charter, rewrite it, or
"temporarily" compromise for the sake of "Palestinian
people's current welfare needs" I don't know. But, give them
a little pressure and some diplomatic threats, loss of
international funds as one, they will come around. In
conclusion, I believe that Hamas victory was the best thing
that happened to the Palestinians, Israelis and the peace in
the region, under the circumstances. A sustainable peace
agreement between Palestine and Israel is now assured, even
though it may take a little adjusting time.
(Publ. in Iran Daily, 2/2/2006)
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