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Last update - 10:00 04/03/2008 Talk to Hamas By Nehemia Shtrasler Tags: saddam hussein, israel, hamas In the winter of 1991, Saddam Hussein bombed Tel Aviv. For a month and a half, long-range missiles landed on the city. People panicked and many fled to Jerusalem, while the leaders issued pompous statements about the terrible blow the Iraqi dictator was about to receive. But nothing happened. We did nothing. In February-March 1996, buses exploded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and dozens of people were killed in suicide bombings in the streets and restaurants. People who went to the grocery store did not know if they would return. Those who went to a restaurant or disco were seen as risking their lives. Advertisement Shimon Peres, who was then prime minister, realized that the suicide attacks would destroy him politically but could do nothing to prevent them. Sure enough, Benjamin Netanyahu won the elections. In 2001-2003, terror struck in the heart of Israel again. The suicide bombings emptied the shopping centers, tourism halted, businesspeople went bankrupt and received no compensation. The economy plunged into a deep recession amid rising unemployment. Even then we did not enter an all-out war in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. So it is wrong to argue that the state has abandoned Sderot and the western Negev. If this is abandonment, then Tel Aviv and Jerusalem were abandoned as well. The truth is more prosaic: Power has limitations. The Israel Defense Forces cannot solve everything. Netanyahu may say there is a simple solution - "to move from attrition to the offensive" - but the reality is more complicated. The IDF acted on the outskirts of Gaza's densely populated territory and two soldiers were killed. Had the army pushed deeper, the number of fatalities would have risen sharply. International pressure would have risen as well. The United Nations has already condemned us, Omar Suleiman, the Egyptian arbitrator, canceled his visit to Israel, and scenes from the beginning of the second intifada in October 2000 returned to the West Bank. The Qassam and Grad rockets continued falling even when the IDF was inside Gaza, and yesterday Hamas hastened to declare victory. Another irritating lie in the Israeli discourse insists that it is appropriate to make Gazans' lives a living hell, so that they will put pressure on their leaders and end the firing of rockets. This thesis was behind the first Lebanon war, but that fallacy didn't work either, even when hundreds of thousands of Lebanese were forced to flee to the north. That was also the thesis behind the Second Lebanon War. But despite the Lebanese population's extreme suffering, it didn't work then either. It is certainly not working in Gaza. There things are horrifically bad. Poverty is awful, the number of fatalities is huge, the hospitals are collapsing from too many wounded, unemployment has reached the extraordinary level of 60 percent, and most of the population subsists on food provided by United Nations organizations. People in such a difficult situation have nothing left but their self-respect. In these days "all of Gaza has become Hamas," a former Fatah security officer who is far from being a Hamas supporter, told Haaretz. Al Jazeera is broadcasting to every home the horror pictures of the deaths of dozens of children and women. In this situation, hatred triumphs and the only hope is the desire to take revenge. The rocket launchers are thus the heroes who gain the people's sympathy, and support for Hamas is not getting any smaller - it's growing. So there is no escape but to talk to Hamas. We cannot choose our enemies. We embraced Yasser Arafat after saying for dozens of years (in the words of Yitzhak Rabin) that "we'll meet the PLO only on the battlefield." Indeed, signing an agreement with Hamas is risky. An agreement could weaken Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whom Israel sees as a fitting partner. But it also harbors hope. We could make a cease-fire arrangement consisting of stopping the rocket fire in exchange for stopping the assassinations. We could agree on a prisoner exchange and bring Gilad Shalit home. We could even alleviate the economic siege in an agreement that would prevent transferring weapons and explosives via the Rafah crossing. All this is attainable, and is many times preferable to continuing the bloodbath, which would only raise the walls of hatred and revenge higher. Once we didn't want to talk to the PLO and Arafat. Then we humiliated Abbas and didn't want to give him any achievement during the disengagement. Now we don't want to talk to Hamas. So the struggle will continue - until a catastrophe occurs, on their side or ours. Only then will the leaders be forced to sit down and talk around the negotiating table. Bookmark to del.icio.us   UN hushes Human Rights Council observes moment of silence for Gaza 'martyrs.' Hitler's sign Document shows that British spies hired a flamboyant astrologer in World War II.   1.   Time for Israel to accept "Hudna", time for the West...... 10:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 04/03/08   2.   I have friends in Israel 10:33  |  traveller 04/03/08   3.   Ya, speak to them, abhorrent as they are... 10:34  |  Esther 04/03/08   4.   Negotiation with hamas 10:40  |  Konrad 04/03/08   5.   PROBABLY NOT 10:47  |  indrajaya 04/03/08   6.   The truth, but not one that Zionists want to hear 10:55  |  Clickfool 04/03/08   7.   Too bad Kahana didn`t have kassam so you`d have talked to him too 11:02  |  bowing to tyrants 04/03/08   8.   no way out except to talk with Hamas?? 11:15  |  John 04/03/08   9.   right nehemia.... 11:17  |  ravi 04/03/08   10.   #1 the truth that the ckuckin fool never reads 11:23  |  v hardman 04/03/08   11.   Nehemia-Chachama: If you are so clever, try to talk to HAMAS. ... 11:24  |  Vittorio 04/03/08   12.   Talk to Shtrasler 11:27  |  Baruch 04/03/08   13.   to clickfool 11:28  |  alef 04/03/08   14.   I HAVE SAID THIS WHEN THE INTIFADA ERRUPTED... 11:29  |  TripleJump 04/03/08   15.   Once we didn`t talk to the PLO and Arafar... 11:32  |  Ehud 04/03/08   16.   There are Plenty of Ways ..... 11:32  |  Dolly 04/03/08   17.   Shtrasler misses his own message 11:37  |  David Teich 04/03/08   18.   Initiative 11:40  |  Jeroen de Jager 04/03/08   19.   Israel will die if it does not talk to Hamas. 11:51  |  Nathan Rai 04/03/08   20.   For Alef # 13 11:57  |  Clickfool 04/03/08   21.   talking to hamas 12:01  |  Rab Burns 04/03/08   22.   the real enemy is Iran 12:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/03/08   23.   Ehud 12:04  |  sh 04/03/08   24.   There is a Way Out Nehemia: El Al Direct to LA 12:29  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 04/03/08   25.   #Clickfool 12:29  |  Leb 04/03/08   26.   Why Civilians die in Gaza 12:32  |  Judson Spencer 04/03/08   27.   to Nehemia Shtrasler,the wise man ,Well said, 12:35  |  Zaki 04/03/08   28.   sh - where do you live? 12:43  |  Ehud 04/03/08   29.   This opinion is really popular amongst the Jew haters 12:46  |  SLAVO 04/03/08   30.   Shatrsler is correct 12:57  |  Truth 04/03/08   31.   Question for Slavo # 29 13:02  |  Clickfool 04/03/08   32.   To talk or not to Talk thats not the point 13:11  |  pal 04/03/08   33.   Talking with HAMAS = end of Fatah, end of peace process 13:16  |  Shlomo from Tel-Aviv 04/03/08   34.   orgy of killing? really? 13:34  |  M 04/03/08   35.   Points to be considered 13:55  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/03/08   36.   Sounds Groovy, but.... 14:09  |  FOX 04/03/08   37.   Is anyone paying attention? 14:13  |  Mark Lincoln 04/03/08   38.   #32 No,pal from LA! Don`t pretend that you don`t understand!!!!! 14:26  |  Vittorio 04/03/08   39.   We cannot choose our enemies 14:46  |  Tzfonit 04/03/08   40.   And talking to Arafat got you what? 14:47  |  McQueen 04/03/08   41.   Israel has yet to learn 14:48  |  Hilda 04/03/08   42.   What is the issue? 14:49  |  sandra chitayat 04/03/08   43.   What you`re saying Nehemia is that there`s no solution at all 14:50  |  McQueen 04/03/08   44.   To Slavo / who really hates Israel? 14:51  |  Anne 04/03/08   45.   Notice how everyone who wants Israel eliminated agrees with this 14:52  |  McQueen 04/03/08   46.   Nehemia. Words Right From The Shtetl! 14:52  |  Alex 04/03/08   47.   The Only Thing Left for Israel to do 14:58  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/03/08   48.   To John 15:25  |  David James Vickery 04/03/08   49.   Kol Ha Kavod, Nehemia but I dont think Israel 15:35  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/03/08   50.   33Shlomo from TA,most idiotic comment to come from you,and you 15:40  |  lakshmi 04/03/08   51.   Talk to Hamas OR occupy Gaza, again 15:46  |  Harold 04/03/08   52.   Leftie Esther,why didn`t your Granparents talk to Lithuanian peas 15:51  |  Absolute Sweden 04/03/08   53.   Nehemia Shtrasler the biggest fool on Earth 16:48  |  Steven 04/03/08   54.   Unfortunately, Israel did abandon Sderot 16:51  |  Tosefta 04/03/08   55.   We No Need Shtrasler Dhimmitude , We Already Have Tossefta`s One 17:04  |  Joseph . E 04/03/08   56.   A light "catastrophe" on the Gazan side is exactly the solution 17:09  |  Jason 04/03/08   57.   Why Not Just Give Up The Country ? 17:09  |  Tod Zuckerman 04/03/08   58.   dear abbas! armed struggle has worked for 17:31  |  bozhidar 04/03/08   59.   The problem started BECAUSE some idiot spoke to the PLO & Arafat 17:38  |  didnt work in `42 04/03/08   60.   Ehud 15 talking to the PLO and Arafat 17:40  |  Steven 04/03/08   61.   Esther 3 YOU LIE. PUT ME IN CHARGE OF THE IDF 17:46  |  Steven 04/03/08   62.   Joseph E in Givatayim on the dhimma 17:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 04/03/08   63.   Hamas is Controlled By Iran 18:05  |  MIKE 04/03/08   64.   Mark Lincoln, Pay attention #37 18:06  |  FOX 04/03/08   65.   #57 Mr. Zuckerman 18:21  |  George 04/03/08   66.   Talk to Hamas and give up last hope for peace 18:26  |  Voice of Reason 04/03/08   67.   Of course there is a military solution: Expel them all to Egypt 18:29  |  Ronny 04/03/08   68.   Talk to Hmas? What about? The Weather? 18:30  |  Danny 04/03/08   69.   Nehemia should go live in Sderot 18:31  |  Yossi 04/03/08   70.   More Self-delusional tales from Comrade Shtrasler 18:32  |  Jo 04/03/08   71.   India and Pakistan 18:41  |  Marilyn 04/03/08   72.   Adopting Hizbullahs successful tactics, Hamas can`t be defeated 18:50  |  Uziel Hirschberg 04/03/08   73.   For Jason # 56 18:59  |  Clickfool 04/03/08   74.   To #38Yes I know What the Palestinians want 19:00  |  pal 04/03/08   75.   Peace in Northern Ireland 19:12  |  Tony Blair 04/03/08   76.   What is Slowman doing in the supermarket? 19:24  |  Nehemia Shtrasler 04/03/08   77.   Fox #36 19:32  |  Fox Hunter 04/03/08   78.   The danger of rabies (as in Rabid Fox) - Smadar, yesterday 19:53  |  Tosefta 04/03/08   79.   Reply to Ehud 20:04  |  sh 04/03/08   80.   All IDF generals want Knesset seats and won`t talk to Hamas 20:14  |  Yossi Cronenberg 04/03/08   81.   Talk to Ham-Ass? Are you NUTZ?! 20:18  |  Hinda 04/03/08   82.   Cipora is right that Iran is the ultimate problem. 20:19  |  Stephen in New York 04/03/08   83.   The Mute Merry-Go-Round 20:50  |  AliciaYasmeen 04/03/08   84.   #39, Tzfonit, dealing with the enemy 21:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/03/08   85.   Hamas must be destroyed once and for all 21:38  |  Ross 04/03/08   86.   #91 Hinda 21:40  |  tbora 04/03/08   87.   Talks for what? 21:55  |  victor 04/03/08   88.   What if you don`t actually want a way out? 22:02  |  Colin Wright 04/03/08   89.   Why don`t you go do it Ross? 22:37  |  Mark Lincoln 04/03/08   90.   To Uziel Hirshberg from Savion(of course) 22:53  |  Absolute Sweden 04/03/08   91.   Colin Wright,sincere condolences on the death of your wife`s 23:23  |  Absolute Sweden 04/03/08   92.   Talk to Hamas 23:33  |  Ralph 04/03/08   93.   Dino Dion 23:38  |  Naftali 04/03/08   94.   @75 Toni Blair 23:39  |  Ralph 04/03/08   95.   dreamboats who believe in talk know no history 00:04  |  v hardman 05/03/08   96.   # 10 Victor-Pauli 00:23  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/03/08   97.   # 93 Naftali 00:26  |  Swiss (Dino) 05/03/08   98.   Response to Mark Lincoln 00:54  |  Ross 05/03/08   99.   Why not talk to Al-Qaeda? 01:27  |  B (The other one) 05/03/08   100.   Force does work, Nehemia 02:32  |  Paul 05/03/08   101.   hamas and israel will talk 03:05  |  ali 05/03/08   102.   yes nehamia. offer the peace they do. peace of the dead! 03:28  |  ralph 05/03/08   103.   no way out except to talk with Hamas?? 03:44  |  Fritz 05/03/08   104.   Talk to Hamas 04:57  |  Nathan Rai 05/03/08   105.   World: Gaza will be FREE soon 04:59  |  Angel 05/03/08   106.   Don`t Waste Your Breath 05:20  |  Albert 05/03/08   107.   #50 Lakshmi is right 05:26  |  Nathan Rai 05/03/08   108.   #105 - Gaza will be free from Israel 05:30  |  Nathan Rai 05/03/08   109.   i agree 05:40  |  paulo2005 05/03/08   110.   completely disagree with the writer of this article 06:45  |  Mark 05/03/08   111.   #96 dino the man who has never met a real arab in his life 08:40  |  v hardman 05/03/08   112.   #105 angela and tibet chechyna darfur seem 08:42  |  v hardman 05/03/08   113.   #88 Colin Wright is right 09:01  |  MacBeth 05/03/08   114.   TALK to Hamas.. or TALK to Iran..... 09:06  |  Dagma 05/03/08   115.   Talk is a sick dream,murders must be removed= 9/11 09:28  |  sam 05/03/08   116.   105: Angel gets it wrong too 14:38  |  David Teich 05/03/08

Today Online MI: Iran arming Hezbollah with missiles via Turkey Responses: 138 Leviev: Zionism is bankrupt due to 'new American religion' Responses: 68 Moshe Arens: It was too much to hope for that the IDF would invade Gaza Responses: 38 Rosner: Americans have a favorable view of Israel, especially Republicans Responses: 29 Israeli scientists wonder: Could seaweed power the world? Responses: 23 More Headlines 16:43 Abbas backs off truce demand, says talks to resume 14:09 Cabinet to IDF: Continue operations to halt rocket fire 14:25 Gilad Shalit's French lawyers to Israeli gov't: Let us go to Gaza 13:59 MK Eitam to Arab MKs: One day we will expel you from Israel 16:44 Jewish teen tortured in French town where Ilan Halimi was killed 03:42 MI: Iran arming Hezbollah with missiles sent via Turkey 10:52 Clinton scores crucial wins in Texas, Ohio; McCain wins GOP nomination 14:26 Gov't places 120 fortified bus stops in rocket-plagued Sderot 02:23 IDF officers: We faced fierce but unorganized resistance in Gaza 11:04 Leviev: Zionism is bankrupt because of 'new American religion' 12:30 Ahmadinejad suspends talks with EU after UN resolution against Iran 09:17 What's wrong with Obama? Previous Editions Select Day 04 mar 03 mar 02 mar 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb

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