Perhaps there was
someone in Jerusalem who agreed with U.S. President Barack Obama's
(strange) demands for a "humanitarian cease fire without
pre-conditions," and his consent (really, thank you so much Mr.
President) for Israel's demand to make a Gaza a weapons-free zone, but
only within the framework of a future final-status accord.
Israel, it must be
remembered, already agreed to six cease-fire proposals since the onset
of Operation Protective Edge, including the Egyptian proposal that
preceded the ground incursion. Hamas violated every single one.
Incidentally, it was Hamas on Monday that perhaps solved the Israeli
dilemma whether to say yes to the American proposal or not. The
terrorist organization from Gaza, with its resumption of attacks on
Monday, made Obama's proposal, much like Secretary of State John Kerry's
proposal on Friday, unrealistic. If Obama wants to blame anyone, with
all due respect let him turn to Hamas.
Hamas does not want a
cease-fire. It continues to fire at Israeli population centers, and
leaves the IDF without a choice: We are not stopping until we have
victory, a clear one. Extremists of Hamas' ilk are not a rare breed in
this neighborhood. God help us if they do not understand that the IDF's
only option is victory.
On Monday, Hamas did
not want to stop shooting because of Obama's failure to understand that
he upgraded the terrorist group during his phone call with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In doing so, the American president damaged
Israeli deterrence, thereby ensuring the next round of fighting.
Hamas, currently
feeling the Egyptian, Saudi, Israeli and Palestinian Authority's noose
tightening around its neck, was incredulous that Washington would
actually be the one to throw it a lifesaver. Under normal circumstances,
we would expect our sizable American friend -- who has habitually said
the good guys must always defeat the bad guys -- to give Hamas a rope
with which to hang itself. Can somebody finally explain to the Americans
that Hamas is a terrorist organization, not any different from the
terrorist organizations that America itself is fighting and has fought?
Apparently Obama truly
expects us to agree to a cease-fire under the current circumstances, so
perhaps this is the time to offer him a deal: Over the next month we
will not interfere in any of America's fights, and America will not
interfere in ours. If U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, inspired by
Washington, believes a "hand-made hurricane" hit the Gaza Strip. Maybe
we should explain to him that in Syria, 1,600 people have been
slaughtered in the past 10 days without the world taking an interest.
Operation Protective
Edge has already exacted a heavy price from Israel. Every soldier killed
is an entire world lost, and on Monday we lost many worlds. The U.S.
president needs to understand that the war against Hamas is being waged
within the framework of the global war on terrorism, and that Hamas is
emerging without any achievements.
Israeli officials on
Monday honestly intended to honor the Eid al-Fitr festival marking the
end of Ramadan, and to agree to a cease-fire for the sake of Gaza's
residents. It was Hamas that proved yet again just how "important" the
citizens of Gaza are to it, even during the holidays. If only for this
reason, the Obama administration -- which has exhibited considerable
fondness for the Muslim Brotherhood -- must actually prevent Israel from
agreeing to a "humanitarian cease-fire."
Speaking of "humanitarian," it's
been a bit difficult to hear this word so many times over the past few
days. This is a word, Mr. President, that does not even appear in the
Hamas lexicon.
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