SUPPORTED BY QATAR
By Richard Silverstein
Intelligence Online (IO)
reported (paywall) last month that the visit of GERMAN foreign minister FRANK-WALTER
STEINMEIER to both ISRAEL and GAZA involved far more than the humanitarian
agenda suggested in the media. IO writes
that the GERMAN intelligence agency, BND, is conducting secret negotiations
between the ISRAELI government and HAMAS aimed at achieving a durable, stable
long-term ceasefire. The GERMANS are
encouraging HAMAS’ participation through a collaboration with QATAR’S state
security service. The QATARIS submitted
a proposal to both ISRAEL and GAZA (presumably with the cooperation of the
BND). A key component that would make
the plan attractive to HAMAS is that it would include building a floating
seaport off GAZA that would be administered under NATO auspices. This is the first time NATO has been mentioned
as a potential force to monitor and enforce international agreements in ISRAEL-PALESTINE. If the report is accurate, this could be a
serious and important development, introducing a major international security
force into the region. Additional
reports say TURKEY, which often acts in concert with QATAR in such matters, has
also agreed to the plan.
Background
Information:
HAMAS
REAPS OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR FROM TARIFFS ON THE EGYPT-GAZA TUNNEL
TRADE
MOST
OF THE CITIZENS IN THE STRIP SEE HAMAS AS THE ONLY SOLUTION TO THEIR PROBLEMS
These developments may
explain why the IDF Southern Command chief recently voiced surprisingly
pragmatic statements concerning HAMAS and the need for ISRAEL to come to an
understanding with it:
“Most of the citizens in
the Strip see HAMAS as the only solution to their problems. GAZA has an independent authority that
functions like a country,” said [Sammy] TURGEMAN in comments reported by the ISRAELI
daily YEDIOTH AHRONOTH, depicting HAMAS in terms as much akin to a functioning
state as to a militant group.
“There is a government
and an annual plan, with executive bodies and inspection authorities. Within
the country there is a ruler that is called HAMAS which knows how to exercise
power over the other authorities. As of now, there is no substitute ruler to
replace HAMAS in the strip.
The only replacement for
HAMAS is the IDF and authoritarian chaos. Other than HAMAS there is no other
axis that could control [GAZA].”
TURGEMAN added: “The [PALESTINIAN]
Authority cannot rule and this should be taken as an indisputable statement.”
Of course, the prime
minister and his cabinet war hawks entirely dismiss this approach. It remains to be seen whether whoever within
ISRAEL is shepherding this process (possibly the army and intelligence
services?) can win over the hardliners who would like nothing more than to
torpedo such a peace initiative.
HAMAS
HAS MUCH MORE TO GAIN FROM THIS PROJECT THAN ISRAEL, WHICH IS WHY IT’S LIKELY
TO FAIL
Naturally, the PA is
suspicious and mistrustful of any development that might present HAMAS in a
more favorable light. It hates the
plan. The PA intelligence service
recently warned MAHMOUD ABBAS about it and suggested that he approach the EGYPTIANS
to stop it. This hasn’t happened, in
part because the EGYPTIAN military government, facing increasing levels of
unrest and terrorism in the SINAI, is considering a rapprochement with HAMAS. Recently, EGYPT opened the border with RAFAH for
several days as part of this reconciliation process. The EGYPTIANS expected as a quid pro quo that
HAMAS would aid EGYPT’S military and intelligence services in the hunt for ISLAMIST
terrorists in SINAI. Note, this
contradicts repeated (and questionable) IDF claims that SINAI militants work
together with HAMAS in perpetrating terror attacks.
HAMAS hardliner, MAHMOUD
ZAHAR, leads a faction opposed to any deal with either ISRAEL or EGYPT. He represents the view of HAMAS’ military
wing. The movement’s political wing is
eager for any plan that would involve improving the quality of life for average
GAZANS since the war last summer, which made life a sheer misery for most
residents. Further, an ISIS affiliate, ANSAR
JERUSALEM, recently announced that it planned to challenge and defeat HAMAS in
the enclave. Though it’s doubtful the
group has the muscle to fulfill its threat, just the name ISIS is enough to
instill fear in the hearts of HAMAS’ political wing.
HAMAS has much more to
gain from this project than ISRAEL, which is why it’s likely to fail. But just its existence is a positive
development.
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