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What Israel hasn't tried
By Mohammed Naim Farhat
Tags: israel news

After the breakdown of the cease-fire between Israel and the Palestinians, people are talking about the possibility of Israel retaking the Gaza Strip. This possibility is not desirable for Israel, but it continues to be the main alternative to the temporary calm. It shows the fixed idea both sides have that in the end violence and shows of force are the only way to solve the conflict.

The statements here are made from the viewpoint of a fair adversary - someone who lives on the other side and is aware of what is happening there; someone aware of the risks and opportunities. What we, the Palestinians, see is an attempt by the Israeli occupation to reshape its control over the West Bank and Gaza, with the goal of leaving them under military attack. The result is a lost opportunity to create a more comfortable climate on the way to an agreement. The damage in political, economic, human, moral and security terms of this choice is obvious; it harms the chances for an agreement, which in any case is complex and difficult. From the Palestinians' point of view, retaking Gaza will mean an increase in the violence they experience every day. The victims are not only people losing their lives, but those increasingly losing hope.

Let us assume the worst from the point of view of us Palestinians: Israel invades Gaza and eliminates the infrastructure of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and others, gaining complete control over Gaza. It thus ends the rocket fire, all without the Israeli army losing even one soldier. But when the task has been completed, Israel's political and military leaders will face the question of what happens next. What do they expect - in light of experience - will grow from under the rubble as a result of tightened control?
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It may perhaps be argued that the recent decades show that the Palestinians can be defeated, oppressed and even broken, and that their national movements can be damaged by force. But it is clear that their national identity cannot be destroyed. The Palestinians have overcome many obstacles, even if only with great difficulty. It is a fact that they continue to exist despite all the difficulties and attempts over 100 years to oppress and supplant them.

Israel needs no further proof of the failure of the military option. And the Palestinians, who see themselves as the eternal victim of the occupation, must awaken from their aspirations for a solution, aspirations that are beyond their capabilities.

Israel's capabilities on the battlefield, and its limitations, and the Palestinians' lack of capabilities must lead both sides to an alternative conclusion that there cannot be a military solution to the conflict. Of course, this conclusion must be reiterated and emphasized to the party utilizing the military option more. Thus there is no choice but to seek an alternative which it seems is being intentionally ignored: coexistence at a certain price. Unfortunately, there is no sign today of concessions on the illusion front and the creation of a more rational/realistic front.

In this context, Israel, strong on the one hand but anxious on the other, needs a new perspective to define the problems and means for solving them; a perspective based on humility and an understanding of the wise use of force. This new perspective must recognize the other and the rights of the other as a whole; to look for a real partner instead of dismissing that partner or trying to destroy, humiliate, change or determine the characteristics of that partner. Israel has also not tried to let the Palestinians live in their space, based on a real relationship between rights and reality; space that is not controlled by a policy of humiliation and oppression. Not only has this possibility never been tried by Israel, it is perceived from the outset as a problem. As for the Palestinians, they must reevaluate their worldview, which has proven an utter failure in solving the conflict.

The French literary critic Roland Barthes said that only things that seem obvious can be shocking. To this category belong the repeated failures of strong Israel. The Palestinians are also failing, in their own way. Violence is the only thing winning in this play, whose subject is the conflict between two peoples. And Israel is responsible for the violence. Anyone who does not see in an agreement a supreme interest from Israel's point of view, and a very essential interest from the Palestinian point of view, and does not work to bring it about, transforms the obvious into a deep historical swamp. From time to time we hear Israelis describe Palestinians as champions at missing opportunities. Someone should warn the Israelis so they do not become the champion of lost opportunities.

The writer teaches sociology at Bethlehem University. This article is an updated version of a lecture presented at the conference: "Crisis in Gaza: Risk and Possibility" at the Chaim Herzog Center for Middle East Studies and Diplomacy at Ben-Gurion Unversity. It was presented in the absence of the writer, who is not permitted to leave the territories.
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  1.   Please give this message of mutual non- violence to `Hamas` 09:07  |  Shalom Freedman 02/12/08
  2.   Rational course of action 09:09  |  Ilan 02/12/08
  3.   israel has not tried a sustained war of attrition 09:36  |  harzion 02/12/08
  4.   mr farhat we do not want the gaza strip. 09:40  |  harzion 02/12/08
  5.   Israel Has Not Invaded Gaza City Since Hamas Existed 09:43  |  Baruch Gold 02/12/08
  6.   Mr. Farhat, what Israelis See 09:46  |  Tzfonit 02/12/08
  7.   Farhat`s Futile Advice to Israel 09:52  |  Walid 02/12/08
  8.   oy 10:06  |  Jocko Dundee 02/12/08
  9.   Wil the "right of the other" include the right to shoot at me? 10:14  |  Israeli 02/12/08
  10.   And Mr. Farhat, how shall Israel respond to violence? 10:21  |  James 02/12/08
  11.   Farhat is afraid to face the truth 10:26  |  Hastaroth 02/12/08
  12.   WHAT Pals haven`t tried.As Emmanuel Ghandi said 10:37  |  PETER SM 02/12/08
  13.   No true 11:06  |  Serge 02/12/08
  14.   what Israel has tried 11:22  |  RNEW 02/12/08
  15.   Mr. Farhat, Here is what Israelis See 11:42  |  Tzfonit 02/12/08
  16.   Palestinians compromise is imminent 11:53  |  Tidhar 02/12/08
  17.   the primal fallacy is 12:15  |  David 02/12/08
  18.   the occupation of gaza is for fools. 12:28  |  harzion 02/12/08
  19.   My husband who is from Gaza says the same thing 12:38  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/12/08
  20.   Only Real Solution - Expel all Azatim to Egypt 12:56  |  Feiglin for PM 02/12/08
  21.   So what does Israel do? 13:12  |  Wounded Dove 02/12/08
  22.   The usual propaganda 13:15  |  Dan Martins 02/12/08
  23.   psm Mr he said --she said from daan unde 13:17  |  Labhras 02/12/08
  24.   We are winning 13:18  |  Raed Kami 02/12/08
  25.   We are winning 13:18  |  Raed Kami 02/12/08
  26.   When Arab (physical) violence meets Israeli (political) violence 13:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/08
  27.   What Professor Farhat Doesn`t Get (part 1) 13:47  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/08
  28.   Can we break the cycle of violence? 13:49  |  Manny Goldstein 02/12/08
  29.   The opposite is true 13:59  |  Ofer 02/12/08
  30.   To Raed Kami who wants his land but lives in London 14:09  |  Tzfonit 02/12/08
  31.   first misstatement by pali writer 14:14  |  Arie 02/12/08
  32.   Mohammed is in denial 14:16  |  Peter Williams 02/12/08
  33.   Swiss (Dino) 14:28  |  Walid 02/12/08
  34.   What Professor Farhat Doesn`t Get (part 2) 14:42  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/08
  35.   Baruch Gold 14:46  |  The Teacher/Instruct 02/12/08
  36.   Walid.... 14:53  |  JewishHeart 02/12/08
  37.   For me the most terrible sentence is the last 14:57  |  sh 02/12/08
  38.   The solution: ban any creed and any word based on creeds. 15:07  |  Jew- and Bookburner 02/12/08
  39.   Raed Kami-Tough luck,the Jews control the territory 15:08  |  Sam 02/12/08
  40.   Israel hasn`t tried 15:11  |  Ralph 02/12/08
  41.   Raed Kami # 25 You Have Already Lost 16:34  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/08
  42.   #27 What Jeff Northridge Doesn`t Get 16:34  |  examiner 02/12/08
  43.   # 33 Walid 16:36  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/08
  44.   #27 What Jeff Northridge Doesn`t Get. Part 2 16:45  |  examiner 02/12/08
  45.   JewishHeart 16:57  |  Walid 02/12/08
  46.   To Tzfonit about Raed Kami 17:03  |  James 02/12/08
  47.   Swiss (Dino) 17:04  |  Walid 02/12/08
  48.   this situation won`t turn by one side`s leap in the dark - 17:08  |  ivo 02/12/08
  49.   Same old propaganda dressed up as "rational" analysis 17:13  |  McQueen 02/12/08
  50.   Arie # 31 Yes And Not Quite 17:31  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/08
  51.   Ya Walid 17:38  |  Tzfonit 02/12/08
  52.   On the contrary to find your answer you should phrase this: 17:50  |  lily 02/12/08
  53.   When Terror masquerades as Peace 18:14  |  FOX 02/12/08
  54.   Israel can`t implant a state for the Palestinians. 18:27  |  Akram Zekaria 02/12/08
  55.   zero mention of iran proxy army, islamist agenda controlling gaza 18:33  |  don 02/12/08
  56.   Mohmmed speaks of Humiliation, twice! 18:38  |  FOX 02/12/08
  57.   FOX-53 stick to reality then you will cure confusion 18:40  |  H. Anxiety 02/12/08
  58.   What Farhat hasn`t tried 19:00  |  SDHD 02/12/08
  59.   # 47 Walid 19:04  |  Swiss (Dino) 02/12/08
  60.   Mohammad`s Muse 19:05  |  Jasper 02/12/08
  61.   Walid # 47 UNGAR 194 Was Not A Law 19:06  |  Jeff Northridge 02/12/08
  62.   Raed as a nude salsa instructor this is my prospective 19:39  |  Yaakov Sullivan 02/12/08
  63.   Thanks my Anxious Friend 20:09  |  FOX 02/12/08
  64.   Israel tried that and it worked in the West Bank 20:16  |  Joe Frazier 02/12/08
  65.   What Israel hasn`t tried 20:25  |  emeff 02/12/08
  66.   Temporary Calm? 20:27  |  goldie klugman 02/12/08
  67.   Farhat is appealing to reason 21:08  |  Otto Rand 02/12/08
  68.   TZFONIT 21:52  |  GABE1 02/12/08
  69.   What the Palestinians haven`t tried 21:55  |  Morris Valentine 02/12/08
  70.   What the Arabs haven`t tried 22:07  |  peter 02/12/08
  71.   FOX! #63 You`re welcome, friend 22:38  |  H. Anxiety 02/12/08
  72.   Why this conflict has not been resolved 22:44  |  Gene 02/12/08
  73.   35. The Teacher/Instruct bring Schooled by an actual Wisemen 23:03  |  Baruch Gold 02/12/08
  74.   H. Anxiety 23:10  |  Wake-Up Call 02/12/08
  75.   Wake-Up Call 23:38  |  Go B T Sleep 02/12/08
  76.   What never will be tried 00:15  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  77.   Build dont bomb 00:49  |  jane 03/12/08
  78.   all wrong. re-take gaza then rule directly raise democratic gener 01:03  |  ralph 03/12/08
  79.   All this is reasonable , and would be 01:04  |  TOMY 03/12/08
  80.   Land versus peace 01:17  |  Baz Mann 03/12/08
  81.   The only way 01:50  |  Reuben Jacobs 03/12/08
  82.   Mark Lincoln 02:02  |  Sean 03/12/08
  83.   Mark Lincoln # 76 The Hamas Charter 02:08  |  Jeff Northridge 03/12/08
  84.   Jeff and the endless blather 02:48  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  85.   Earth to Ralph, Earth to Ralph, come in Ralph 02:54  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  86.   Ruben Jacobs - you comprehend the problem 02:56  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  87.   And Tommy, the Settlers are not driven by religion? 03:02  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  88.   #86. what planet do you come from. lets get some common ground 04:23  |  ralph 03/12/08
  89.   To Haaretz - thank you 05:20  |  Mark Lincoln 03/12/08
  90.   Lincoln spewing the usual mindless nonsense 05:28  |  SDHD 03/12/08
  91.   Gaza 06:04  |  Helen Bransgrove 03/12/08
  92.   Annex the territories 06:04  |  Kevin Walsh 03/12/08
  93.   A very long history... 06:53  |  MLK 03/12/08
  94.   A fine line 07:20  |  MLK 03/12/08
  95.   What is this about? 07:45  |  Ron 03/12/08
  96.   Mohammed I Don`t Know How You Can Do It 07:53  |  Yosemite 03/12/08
  97.   Mark Lincoln logic 07:54  |  Peter Williams 03/12/08
  98.   Lincoln Pontificates 10:01  |  FOX 03/12/08
  99.   hmmmm 11:30  |  richi 03/12/08
  100.   # 73 to baruch gold re: of teacher/instruct`s points 12:52  |  eric 03/12/08
  101.   # 96 to yosemite re: "the barracks" 13:31  |  eric 03/12/08
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