Israel should thank Egypt for opening Gaza crossing
Even though at first glance it might not look that way, Egypt's decision to open the Rafah crossing point is also good for Israel.
By Shlomo Avineri Tags: Egypt Gaza Gaza flotillaWithout a doubt, Egypt's decision to open the Rafah crossing point is good for the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip and for the Hamas government. The question of whether it is good for Egypt remains open. As for Israel, even though at first glance it might not look that way, it is also good.
The fact that Gaza will now be directly connected to the Arab world might make it easier for Israel to untangle itself from a number of knots and a thoughtful and wise response to the new reality could make it easier to deal with the next flotilla.
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A Palestinian crossing into Egypt from gaza via the newly-opened Rafah crossing on Saturday. |
| Photo by: AP |
Though Israel evacuated the Jewish settlements from the Gaza Strip and withdrew the Israel Defense Forces from the territory, it kept its hold on the supervision of entry and departure there by land, sea and air. After the Hamas takeover of Gaza, this external control became a blockade - which hadn't initially been included in the idea of the disengagement.
The aims of the of the blockade emerged gradually: Legitimate intentions like preventing provision of armaments to Hamas mingled here with more complex aims like a desire to topple the Hamas regime and bring about the release of Gilad Shalit.
None of these aims have been achieved and the blockade's diplomatic repercussions on Israel's international standing have never been publicly discussed. Instead of reaping the diplomatic rewards of the disengagement, Israel has been perceived as oppressing a million and a half civilians.
An absurdity has developed: Even though Israel is no longer controlling the Gaza Strip, it is viewed as responsible for the distress prevailing there. We have also reached an embarrassing situation in which a special unit has formulated a list of allowed foods for the inhabitants of Gaza - as though it were a collective prison under our control.
Thus we fell into the trap set by the organizers of the flotilla from Turkey and came across as violent occupiers, who are not only oppressing a civilian population but also killing people who try to bring them humanitarian aid.
However - and it is hard to admit this - what brought about the near-total cessation of Qassam-fire out of the Gaza Strip was Hamas' fear of another brutal Israeli military operation.
The fact that the Gaza Strip has another border - with Egypt - was forgotten and that country's cooperation with Israel in also closing its own border with the the Gaza Strip did not attract attention. Israel alone was perceived as responsible for their distress.
Now, upon the opening of the Egyptian border, the time has come to complete the disengagement from the Gaza Strip. Israel must lift the naval and air blockades and at the same time shut down entirely the land crossing points from Israel to Gaza. The Gaza Strip is enemy territory and from the moment it is open to the wider world through the Rafah crossing, all the remnants of the Israeli occupation as manifested in the naval and air blockade should be eliminated, thereby removing from us the responsibility for provisioning the Gaza Strip.
The border between Israel and Gaza should be like the border between Israel and Lebanon, and just as Israel is not imposing a naval blockade on Lebanon it should not be imposing one on Gaza.
If this policy is implemented, transferring provisions and humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip will be done through Egypt - or directly to Gaza. If the organizers of the flotilla to Gaza want to reach Gaza - you are welcome: This is none of our business. There is no Israeli blockade, and so-called human rights activists - whose only aim is to embarrass Israel - aren't bringing weapons there anyway.
Anyone who wants to bring weapons has been doing it for years via the tunnels and we haven't been able to stop that. A total disengagement could also decrease the motivation of some of the flotilla participants.
Gaza is a foreign country. It is hard to digest this, but this is the logic of the disengagement, which must now be completed. Thanks are due to Egypt for having made this possible.
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The essential question is Do you really want peace? I don't think there will be peace till you have a military disaster. You have to get off all the mentality delusions you have. You have to recognize the rights of others in the area. With Netanyahu and others with his opinions, I don't think that wise voices will succeed in the so called, "Israeli society."
But the psycho-right which rules Israel cannot conceive that it is wrong in pursing policies which have failed.
Ks clearly has no idea what it is talking about. The Egyptians have opened the border only to people, not goods. Moreover men between the ages of 18 and 40 are vetted by the Egyptian Army. The argument that Egypt is allowing massive smuggling of 'terrorist' materials is utter twaddle, uttered by knee-jerks.
l like this idea a lot. Also no more electricity and general utilities, just like the other borders; gaza is enemy territory. let their Arab brothers take care of their economic needs
Did it occur to the author that in the absence of the blockade, Hamas will be resupplied with weapons by ships instead of the difficult way through the tunnels (via Sudan & Egypt) ?
If only the Palestinians were courageous enough to jump at the chance to sever all relations with Israel. There are more than enough worltwide resources to sustain Gaza in the transition period. With an airport and dock facilities upgraded to minimal standards as say that exist in Haiti the Palestinians will thrive. What this author is saying is what, if compared to a mistress or abused wife, is simply domineering BS. He is daring the Gazans to try and survive without the helping hand of Israel. Take the plunge Abbas--cut the umbilical cord.
Of course the Israelis should thank Egypt!
Do you know what ICBMs are? Do you think a man can hide one in his pocket? Because that's the only way it could happen, given that Rafah is open only to people, not goods.
it is hard to see Israel changing its position on the naval and sea blockades as the Israeli Government is simply incapable of rational reasoning. Gaza will remain occupied by Israel for a very long time.
Gaza occupied by Israel? There is one Israeli in Gaza, Shalit. All other Jews have vacated, (22 settlements to the army brigades). Yes, Israel has sealed the borders..to avoid guerrillas entering and capturing soldiers or civilians and worse, bombing them. The boycott only includes dual use products and weapons. That is a fact. The Gazas are not . their problem is high birth rates and lack of their own ingenuity (for employment) Its basically a depressed area. But look at it prior to the 67 War for comparisons. I agree and disagree with the author. Israel should fully disengage..while making sure more lethal weapons are not given to Hamas. Let the flotiilla pass, its moot now. But watch for any increase in rockets (Katys, Fahrs, Grads, Velvels, etc( or movement by foreign troops (Iran, Syria, Hez, etc.). Israel's best recourse: bomb them or retake parts of the Strip.
What is it you really want? Yes acrding to my perception too...Gaza will is enemy territory doubt they will change their stance thus remaning recalsitrant, and the more you give them the more they will ask..I agree with some of the points by Professor Avineri ,and with some I am sceptical about.(same as with yours.)
I beg to disagree with Shlomo.Fiirst Israel needs to know what is happening in Gaza.Having a partially open border assists with that and with security coordination with Egypt.leaving the matter totally in Egypts hands could damage the Egyptian-Israeli relationship which is vital to peace.Second ,Gaza is not like Lebanon because there is a government in Lebanon which is against war.Gaza rulers want and revel in conflict and in murder and their acquisition of arms needs to be controlled.Thirdly ,peace with the Palestinians will never be complete without incorporating Gaza eventually and Egypt is very unlikely to accept full resposibility for Gaza long term.
Gaza needs to be connected to the West Bank at the very least. A safe passage needs to be established. At some point, Israel would benefit from using labor from Gaza instead of importing Southeast Asians. Shlomo forgets the peace option....simply allow Gaza a safe passage to West Bank. Simply withdraw from the West Bank with appropriate security arrangements including an international force, simply share Jerusalem. You will have peace and security. What are you so afraid of?
If and when peace is achieved, there will be, no doubt, safe passage between Gaza and the west bank (Judea and Samaria)just as Jordan surely utilizes Haifa port as its access to Mediterranean Sea.With-drawal from SOME territory can be considered but only Israel Defense Forces can be depended upon to defend Israel and Israelis. The UN forces in Lebanon were useless and in '67 Egypt ordered them out of Sinai to prepare for war. Jerusalem is the capital city and cannot be "shared" except that members of all faiths are welcome, if they come in peace.
What are we afraid of? We know that should we withdraw, Israel will receive nothing but war and insecurity. Look how the Arabs treat themselves! They are eating each other alive. I don't think they will learn to behave just to get along with Jews.
I've had the same thought. What you didn't mention thought was the connection that Gaza has to the Israeli electricity grid and water infrastructure. I believe this should be severed as well with enough notice to make it possible for similar connections set up with Egypt. If Egypt doesn't want to, that is fine. Gazans can use diesel from Egypt to power their generators and truck water in from Egypt and if it doesn't happen, then that's Egypt's responsibility.
Lift the siege and Gaza has its own gas supplies, can import the parts for desalination plants and trade with Europe, and rebuild its infrastructure. Then they would have no need for Israeli electricity or water or Egyptian electricity or water. And with a tunnel could supply the Palestinian West Bank with water and gas. And maybe have some left over to sell to Israel. They would also have a thriving tourist industry in a few years, too. Make a fair peace and Israel could even reduce its own military industrial complex. Moving instantly from occupation to siege (on the same day) profited nobody. The Sharon gov never implemented over 90% of the AMA (Rafah Agreement).
...is not something Gaza seems terribly interested in. So we go in circles: we don't lift the siege, they can't rebuilt infrastructures and the economy, we don't reduce our own military-industrial complex. The Gaza government has repeatedly rejected the notion that Israel is a legitimate political entity in this region and is committed to extirpating it. At most, Hamas is willing to enter into a hudna. Why can't it simply say, "Yes, Israel is a Jewish state, it has the right to exist, and so do we. Let's figure out how"? Is that so impossible?
The whole middle east have changed, Israel remains the same. You should worry about this..:)
where ? what? how did it changed? few dictators were removed, in an effort to buiild a democracy ... but Israel is already a democracy and a flurishing economy. Thanks G-d!!
...let me just add something beyond good and bad: It is true that the opening was good for the "Hamas government". And if Israel ends the naval blockade, then that will also be very good for Hamas. So - Hamas grows stronger, and becomes legitimate (as they are now - an islamic terror organisation). Is this good news? Good news for the palestinians, for Israel, for the region?
There needs to be an end to the occupation and settlements, let there be a real Palestinian State, established internationally recognized borders. And then if there are any attack on Israel, defend 1000%. Operation Cast Lead as legitimacy if defending an attack by real state. It does not when the occupation is still going on, and attacks on Israel are part of a freedom struggle. Let the Palestinians have the real state they deserve... and the responsibility that goes with that.
A great Palestinin state................. Some of your points are a bit too grandiose.. Ramallah is already free,no need to include it at all.. That if and when it is really estalished remember it will be a demilitarized..That will not change.But should there be any incursions from there Israel will definitely respond with a huge Cast Lead two.
I totally agree with your statement. What seems to be the only solution to the two-state solution is for Israel to give up control and fight when we feel we are being attacked. Through the conflict we have lost a large portion of our dignity in the eyes of the international community and we need to just give the Palestinians what they want and then take care of ourselves if/when we need to.
The Egyptians have opened the Rafah crossing to PEOPLE only, not to GOODS. They are not foolish, and are not willing to take upon themselves the burden of Gaza, they prefer to leave it to Israel. The Gazans are still unable to import raw materials and export finished goods to the world. As long as this situation continues, the Gaza economy will remain in a devastated state and the flotilla problem remain. Of course, Israel should lift the economic blockade which has failed to achieve any intended goal. But the military threat from Gaza remains real. The air and sea blockade will have to remain in place. But economic recovery will take the wind out of the sails of future flotillas.
Much as I love the idea of Egypt stepping up to the plate, I fear you may be right. It would undermine the Arab cause to have the situation in Gaza improve.