Negotiation with the enemy

Submitted by jennifer solis (United States), Feb 12, 2008 at 23:56

Hello, Doc Tater,

Thank you for the compliment!

I agree with you on many points. I, personally, don't believe the population of Gaza deserves anything less than a 1000 lb. "bunker buster" bomb from Israel for every kassam rocket launched out of Gaza. I don't believe Gazans have shown themselves to be anything but undeserving of the land they occupy. They are a nest of terrorists; they elected leadership that supports terror, bent on destruction of Israel; I agree with you that "land for peace" hasn't worked (it never does, name any instance throught history) and that Israel would be quite right in reclaiming Gaza.

Unfortunately, the leadership of Israel is not currently the caliber required for such straitforward and common-sense action. Negotiation with the enemy never resolves the conflict, has never won a war. Israel seems reluctant to employ that law.

Your comment, "If Gazans share a language and have family ties with Sinai Egyptians, they can move to Egypt.", makes much sense. What would facillitate that? Doesn't look like Israel would, via military, any time soon. However, more likely it seems, is that Israel could simply cut supply to Gaza. Egypt would be forced to step in, perhaps via Gazans blowing another hole in the wall. Once Egypt becomes their provider, it would be in Mubarrak's best interest to police the more fanatical, as he would have his own stability and security (and megalomania) to worry about. As Dr. Pipes mentioned, Mubarak has decades of experience dealing with Islamists in his own country. It would be to his own benefit to keep Hammas elements in check. No longer would he be immune by silently pointing Hammas ire towards Israel, nor would he wish that, as Israel would be forced to defend herself against Egypt, should the possible strength, resulting from Hammas teaming up with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, for example, get out of hand.

Say, however, that it does "get out of hand", and Israel has a clear and present danger with regards to her border with Egypt. That would be much appreciated as a threat, rather than four or five rockets falling into Sderot.

If that were to happen, Israel could bomb Gaza, Gazans would flee into Egypt, and Israel would have her "buffer" back. If Mubarak serves his interests successfully, he will quell the Islamists in Gaza before that.

I agree with you, Doc Tater, that Israel should reclaim Gaza. But Israel's leadership and even her own populace, given the current circumstance, don't desire that. But the decision to cut ALL provision would be a tactical victory of sorts; perhaps it would eventually lead to strategic victory.

Negotiation with the enemy would not be present. Just turn the lights out.

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