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A LIBERAL RESPONDS!!!! The Danger of Generalizing Fatah and Hamas

Reader comment on item: Two Palestines, Anyone?

Submitted by Chris G. (United States), Jun 19, 2007 at 15:54

Ok now that I got your attention I'm actually more of a moderate and I am graduate student in cultural anthropology who is conducting research into alternative methods of counter-terrorism.. Below is my response the situation in Gaza and the West Bank:

While what Mr. Pipes says in his article may be true, it still does not answer the basic question of how to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Part of the problem from what I have seen and experienced personally is the lack of "boots on the ground" understanding of the complex political process.

A good example is how Hamas militants in Gaza are saying, "We have established a true Islamic state in Gaza!" while the Hamas leadership in Syria is saying, "NO! We DO NOT want to establish an Islamic state in Gaza or establish two separate Palestinian states." So what we see is either deception or more likely a simple breakdown in authority and discipline in Hamas. Hamas is an Islamist party, but not all Islamists are the same. This is a crucial distinction.

For example Hezbollah historically kept out Al-Qaeda type ideologies and groups in Southern Lebanon. It has only been able to take root in some of the Palestinian camps. I have also not seen any documented cases of Hezbollah cutting off heads of their captives such as the vanquished Christian South Lebanese Army. Likewise, Hamas is not Al-Qaeda. What our policy makers (both conservative and liberal) have failed at is understanding such things as which spiritual leaders Hamas follows and whether certain Islamic religious leaders could be convinced to urge Hamas towards a more moderate and tolerant government. Instead both Republicans and Democrats scream for democracy in the Middle East. Yet the fact of the matter is that democracy is inherently weak. Furthermore democracy is a guaranteed avenue for extremist Islamists to take over a country. If you put true democracy in a country like Egypt, the Islamic Brotherhood would easily win. Why? Because like Hamas, they concentrated on helping the poor by building hospitals and schools. In an area of extreme corruption, they provide honesty. That is their good side. The bad side is that they also want to wipe out Israel and go out on Jihad at the drop of a hat. A lot of this mentality is based on the concept of honor that is so important in the Middle East.

Today our foreign policy is all about humiliating & killing Islamists. This in fact does nothing but strengthen their hatred towards America and Israel. There is almost no dedicated research into developing more positive Islamic based approaches that blend modern concepts of tolerance and freedom into the best aspects of Islam. There are also no government organizations or programs that I am aware of dedicated to refuting extremist Islamic propaganda that is ALL OVER the internet using traditional Islamic theology. I find it ironic that instead, sites like this one, "History of Jihad, Dhimmi Watch, Jihad Watch, etc…" actually help to promote the extremist Salafi interpretations of the Qu'ran that many Hamas members follow (as well as Al-Qaeda). They should be doing the opposite and assisting moderate traditional Islamic scholars regain the soul of their religion from these post-colonialism wahhabi extremists.

Many of you may say, "TO HELL WITH THAT! I'M NOT SUPPORTING THOSE TERRORIST MUSLIMS!" However, the reality is that, Palestinians are Muslims. Even if not all are practicing Muslims, their culture is Islamic based (aside from the Christian minority some of which actually side with Hamas). We CAN NOT ignore their reality. To ignore the day to day reality of Palestinians and instead try to hammer in our own political theories is a recipe for disaster. Unless we are willing to massacre Hamas and any militant groups of Palestinians (or encourage Israel to wipe them out, man, woman, and child), then we need to work with the messy situation that we find in the Palestinian areas. It is full of grey-areas and contradictions. But unless we understand their mindset, culture, religious beliefs, economics, and politics of Palestinians intimately, we should then look at the logical next step to military solutions and give Israel the green-light to either kill them all or push them all into Egypt and Jordan. From those countries, we will then get continuing attacks on Israel and still the violence will go on and on.

It is for that reason that I advocate what many conservatives have a lot of difficulty with (as do many liberals believe it or not). That is, to fully understand those who we and Israel see as terrorists. To just pour money into Fatah like we are now doing is idiotic. It's time to think outside the box and look for solid leaders amongst the Palestinians who are intelligent and powerful advocates for peace and who are not tainted with corruption. Its time to sit down with Fatah and work with them to develop systems of governance to minimize corruption and bring more moderate Hamas leaders to work with them. Its time to work intensively with Hamas leadership to convince them to officially recognize Israel. Its time to develop Islamic based propaganda that refutes extremist ideologies and that shows what kind of beautiful future that a good government and peace with Israel would bring to the Palestinian people.

This would be a future in which they can worship any faith in peace, where they have economic prosperity, and eventually one day, even travel freely to Israel if peace holds securely and relations are improved. Jordan is one example of successful peace between Israel and an Arab nation. The IDF now have joint military exercises in Jordan and good economic relations since 1995.
We need a much more positive and clever approach rather than the constant threats and refusal to speak towards the extremists that are causing the most problems. Military action works for the short-term but is detrimental in the long term unless we conduct ethnic cleansing. Even that is short term as it would incite a broader and real war by all Muslims. What is needed now is a multi-solution approach that is required for complex problems. What I advocate also may work in Iraq and other hot spots.

I am still a freelance researcher so if any government agency is interested in learning more about my research please contact me through Daniel Pipe's website. If given State Dept. clearance, I would happily pack my bags and get on a flight to Jerusalem within two weeks so as to conduct rapid field research and then to work with both Israelis and the Palestinian governments (and Hamas) to achieve lasting peace.

Chris G.

Submitting....

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Reader comments (100) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Correction: 3 Palestines: [26 words]M EAug 18, 2007 19:16106493
Palestinian Shell Game [245 words]DebbieJul 17, 2007 16:26103866
Poor Mickey Mouse [78 words]BlackspeareJul 5, 2007 20:42103056
Islamist Mental Disability [185 words]YnnatchkahJul 3, 2007 02:44102497
Good [2 words]JoeAug 16, 2013 10:02102497
Gaza, the new Sudetenland redux [74 words]Jorgen GoderstadJun 27, 2007 12:37101773
Gaza Strip-tease [136 words]Thomas Justin KazeJun 26, 2007 02:11101313
both hamas and fatah wish to see Israel destroyed [121 words]Phil GreendJun 25, 2007 21:26101164
Shut down the "Mosques.! [40 words]Tony DinesJul 25, 2007 20:16101164
Poll Shows Palestinians want Israel "occupying" Gaza Again. [447 words]YnnatchkahJun 25, 2007 02:44100990
I really have to laugh [74 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 02:47100990
You are right, Seamus MacNemi [37 words]YnnatchkahJul 2, 2007 21:36100990
Atificial state [245 words]DallasJun 24, 2007 23:14100984
Great summary [64 words]Salomon BenzimraJun 23, 2007 23:05100586
Fantasy land [121 words]arthurJun 22, 2007 15:04100387
Strange Bedfellows II [103 words]BlackspeareJun 22, 2007 10:01100360
Strange Bedfellows? [82 words]BlackspeareJun 21, 2007 08:58100038
Two Palestines, Anyone? [57 words]S.C.PandaJun 21, 2007 05:3399917
Two Palestines, Anyone? [826 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jun 23, 2007 01:1599917
Pipes points were vindicated [255 words]Amitabh TripathiJun 21, 2007 03:5399909
Two Palestines, Anyone? [3898 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jun 21, 2007 03:1499906
Palestinians are Sowing what they Reaped [273 words]Mel LarawayJun 23, 2007 15:2999906
Dear Ed Melik, Esq., why did you leave out Egypt from this puzzle? [307 words]MosheJun 24, 2007 04:4399906
Ed Melik's rewrites history [703 words]InfidelJun 24, 2007 15:0599906
Palestinians are reaping what they sowed [153 words]MosheJun 24, 2007 15:1899906
perpetual refugees.. [72 words]donvanJun 25, 2007 11:3499906
No more blame game, enough with the violence [523 words]Bryan JacksonJun 26, 2007 21:5699906
Two Palestines, anyone? [614 words]Ed Melik, Esq.Jul 1, 2007 14:5099906
That's quite a schpiel Mr. Malik [180 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 03:5999906
Hamas & Fatah; Confusing the European Elite [90 words]David P.Jun 20, 2007 23:5199864
Actually, that would be three "Palestines" now [6 words]DanJun 20, 2007 14:1199675
Actually, it is four Palestinian States [175 words]Yuval Brandstetter MDJun 20, 2007 16:0299675
Yuval, please don't try to scare us. [261 words]MosheJun 25, 2007 15:2299675
Baruch haShem, eh Moishe? [17 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 04:2799675
Nobody wants a Palestinian State in the Middle East--except George Bush [702 words]Martin KesslerJun 20, 2007 11:5799667
Here We Go Again [125 words]BlackspeareJun 20, 2007 11:3299665
1poor Israeli Jews will be sandwiched between Islamic Jehad , Muslim Fatah and Jehadi Hamas ! [97 words]ConcernsJun 20, 2007 09:5099646
Hamas, Fata, Islami Jihad, Hezbolla - All jumping and screaming because they are not afraid of Israel [147 words]James BurkeJun 20, 2007 20:3599646
ok right... [70 words]Hamri Al-AssadJun 21, 2007 21:5899646
Why are you jealous of Israel Money and Resources [44 words]HirooJun 23, 2007 06:3999646
Send Jimmy [85 words]LDCJun 20, 2007 08:1099634
Would Mr Pipes or readers help me clarify these questions? Thank you! [265 words]TammyJun 20, 2007 02:2999612
'Palestinian Roulette' - Opinion for Tammy - Who's on First. [597 words]M. ToveyJun 20, 2007 16:3699612
Tammy - a few thoughts [562 words]PatJun 20, 2007 16:5699612
Tammy's Questions [264 words]LDCJun 20, 2007 17:1599612
To LDC [237 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:0899612
To Pat. [317 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:3399612
To M. Tovey [262 words]TammyJun 22, 2007 04:4299612
Sick of war but have no other choice than to fight and hopefufly to finish the job this time [163 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 21:5799612
To Seamus MacNemi [135 words]TammyJul 22, 2007 12:2699612
Fatah and Hamas: Flip Sides of Same Arab Imperialism and Genocidalism [585 words]G. MarcusJun 19, 2007 23:2799602
Gardens in the desert - I think not [226 words]David W. LincolnJun 19, 2007 23:0699597
ONLY SOLUTION: GAZA TO EGYPT; WEST BANK PARTITIONED WITH JORDAN [232 words]MGJun 19, 2007 21:4099581
Idiots in The US Executive Branch [58 words]Ralph C Whaley MDJun 19, 2007 20:0399567
Yes and No [290 words]john w mcginleyJun 19, 2007 18:1299553
two palestines? [120 words]ralph shapiroJun 19, 2007 17:1899550
Shades Of Noam Chomsky [112 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 22:3099550
Abbas/Hamas=peace/schmeece [134 words]Michele Solomon FrynckoJun 19, 2007 16:1199539
Tactics, anyone? [138 words]Jascha KesslerJun 19, 2007 16:1099538
Cutting off water and electricity = bad idea [124 words]Chris G.Jun 21, 2007 14:1799538
A LIBERAL RESPONDS!!!! The Danger of Generalizing Fatah and Hamas [1115 words]Chris G.Jun 19, 2007 15:5499535
No U turns. [77 words]MWJun 21, 2007 10:5699535
to Chris G, the researcher and social scientist, and oh! the liberal [117 words]ASJun 25, 2007 02:4099535
A LIBERAL RESPONDS TO MR. AS- Emotional responses are not logical, nor productive in problem solving. [1598 words]Chris G.Jun 26, 2007 01:3899535
to Chris G [650 words]ASJun 27, 2007 01:5899535
SIR, I have thoroughly enjoyed your presentation here. [134 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 2, 2007 23:3899535
The Folly of Supporting Fatah and Abbas [35 words]Martin E. WeinsteinJun 19, 2007 15:5299534
Two 'Palestines?' Not Likely! [545 words]M. ToveyJun 19, 2007 15:4199533
2 Palestines, anyone [115 words]Steven LJun 19, 2007 15:3899532
Why is Israel doing what it is doing? [82 words]freemanJun 19, 2007 14:3099520
freeman, Israel is defending themselves [108 words]InfidelJun 19, 2007 15:0999520
How to differentiate between a Moderate Terrorist and Militant Terrorist ?? Any suggestion / explanation Mr.Pipes ? [165 words]ThokarJun 20, 2007 09:4199520
Sometimes doing nothing helps [98 words]freemanJun 20, 2007 21:4299520
idiot savant [167 words]jan lapterJun 19, 2007 14:1399515
Hamas Putsch Indeed Irrelevant [276 words]Lonely in KabulJun 19, 2007 14:0599514
Fatah and Hamas [109 words]Donald W. BalesJun 19, 2007 14:0299512
Israelis: Infested with Suicidal LIberalism [277 words]James BurkeJun 20, 2007 08:0799512
A Blast of Fresh Air - How to Build on It? [800 words]Ron ThompsonJun 19, 2007 13:4599510
HAMAS gunmen [85 words]Erkhum MustafaJun 19, 2007 13:0799505
Agreed [216 words]davidJun 19, 2007 12:5599504
Terrorists in the pay of? [85 words]pigfootJun 19, 2007 12:3299503
Two Palestinians [211 words]Ernie LofthouseJun 19, 2007 12:2699502
The difference between Hamas and Fatah - in feet [173 words]Mladen AndrijasevicJun 19, 2007 14:3099502
Penalty [51 words]true believerJun 20, 2007 04:1799502
Fatah: 'We will continue to strike any place, targeting their children as well..' [394 words]NiagaraDec 26, 2021 19:4199502
Not a bad assessment Dr, Pipes, but one thing I have to point out [153 words]Bryan JacksonJun 19, 2007 11:1599496
Two or Twenty Palestines [76 words]ErnieJun 19, 2007 10:4999495
Moderates Malaysians and Islamists Talibaan united in chanting " Destroy Britain " [387 words]PanchoJun 20, 2007 09:4499495
One Palestine - from the river to the sea [280 words]PatJun 19, 2007 10:4299492
Two Palestines Anyone [17 words]Steve GureJun 19, 2007 10:3899490
WHAT ABOUT 2 ISRAELI STATES? [103 words]LEOJun 19, 2007 10:2399363
Both deadly to Israel's cause [39 words]John MorrisJun 19, 2007 10:1999361
Question for all US Presidents and YOU! [44 words]W WalkerJun 19, 2007 09:3299359
People only understand when their close member loses his life in Islamist Terror Attack [39 words]BaioirusJun 20, 2007 09:5699359
two factions [196 words]true believerJun 19, 2007 09:2199357
Where do all those M16's come from [44 words]Steven HessJun 19, 2007 09:1699355
Double standards will only make US weaker ! [20 words]NickJun 20, 2007 10:0099355
Age [132 words]MartyrMakerJun 19, 2007 09:1299354
Reply to Martyr Maker [13 words]Seamus MacNemiJul 3, 2007 21:1299354
one Palestine [48 words]samyJun 19, 2007 07:5699349

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