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Haaretz: It is high time that Tel Aviv cooperated with Hamas

May 9, 2018 at 1:24 am

Smoke following an Israeli air strike in Gaza on 6 February 2017 [Ashraf Amra/Anadolu]

Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an editorial, Tuesday, entitled “An alternative to armed struggle with Hamas”, which argues that it is now time for “Israel to initiate steps that relieve Gaza’s residents of their status as despairing hostages”.

The editorial notes recent media reports of “Hamas’ willingness to enter negotiations with Israel over a long-term cease-fire and an exchange of prisoners,” but notes that there has been no official response from either side.

The newspaper added “Israel and Hamas are locked in a violent confrontation, expressed in recent weeks as a series of demonstrations held on the Gazan border, probably peaking in the coming week. Beyond Hamas’ intention of marking 70 years since the Palestinian Nakba, or catastrophe, the current confrontation has resulted from the dire economic situation in the Gaza Strip, and from what seems like Israel’s and the international community’s indifference to the terrible suffering of 2 million Gazan residents.”

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It goes on: “Tel Aviv cannot ignore these demonstrations, which came because of the difficult situation in the south. For months, the Israeli army has repeatedly warned of the expected consequences of the economic crisis there and called on the Tel Aviv government to ease the siege on the Gaza Strip imposed for 11 years.”

The newspaper continued: “Israel cannot neutralize the symbolism of these demonstrations but it can and must dispel their root cause. The IDF warned for months of the anticipated results of the economic crisis and encouraged the government to implement a significant easing of the closure that has been imposed on Gaza for the last 11 years.”

Explaining further that, “Israel cannot rely on the apathy of Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Jordan, or emulate the policy embraced by Egypt, to justify its conduct in Gaza. The problem is on Israel’s border and the unrest will continue as long as there is no significant improvement. The international community also regards Israel as directly responsible for the situation in Gaza even though it does recognize its security needs.”

The newspaper ended its editorial by recommending a profound shift in Israeli policy: “It is now time to examine the possibility of managing the crisis in Gaza together with Hamas, and abandoning the failed policy that has not released Israel from the burden of being Gaza’s de facto ruler.”