Q&A: Hamas
Hamas
Question
Let us assume for the sake of discussion that Netanyahu really did choose to strengthen Hamas in order to weaken the Palestinian Authority.
In my opinion, that was still the right thing before October 7 (and honestly, maybe even afterward. With forgiveness from all those who were harmed), in order to prevent the Palestinians from having a Palestinian state with an air force, armor, artillery, intelligence, special forces units, etc., which might have caused damage many times greater than a Hamas organization in its current form.
I’m asking for your opinion because, truthfully, this thought won’t leave me alone, and I don’t know whether it falls within the bounds of legitimacy or whether it’s pure Bibism blinding me. I’d be glad to hear your view. No mercy 🙂 .
Answer
No mercy. I think I wrote here in the past that policy decisions should be judged according to their own time, and not with hindsight. Therefore I completely agree that there was room for such a policy, even if in hindsight it turned out to have been mistaken. So I do not see any point in getting into the question of whether it really did turn out, in hindsight, to be mistaken. All the claims against Bibi on this issue are not substantive. This was his policy, and it was legitimate. Only if they prove that he had ulterior motives would that constitute an argument against him.
In my opinion, this is a ridiculous dichotomous way of looking at things. At the end of the day, everyone understands that you can’t really negotiate with the Palestinians, because they simply want everything and are not willing to compromise on anything (classic Arab behavior). See, for example, the Olmert–Abu Mazen talks, the Barak–Arafat talks, etc. If, for example, Israel had set a condition that the IDF would have freedom of operation in the territories, or even basic things like preventing a right of return, the Palestinians, as usual, would have rejected it and refused to agree. Or if a state had been established on condition that there be no terrorist activity whatsoever, of course that would have been violated within a day. In short, the view that says that if it’s not strengthening Hamas then it must be a Palestinian state—that is a mistake. The bitter truth is that Netanyahu didn’t have the strength, and didn’t want to pick a fight with people in the coalition and with the nations of the world, and in so doing he brought upon us the greatest disaster since the Holocaust. We will not forget you and we will not forgive.