http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/08/04/how_to_fix_it_jimmy_carter_mary_robinson_israel_palestine_gaza_hamas
I am incredibly disappointed with
President Carter’s op-ed in Foreign Policy magazine a few days ago. His
criticisms and suggestions not only betray America’s only democratic ally in
the Middle East, but they derive from unfair bias.
He pans Israel for rejecting the
unity government between Hamas and the Palestinian Liberation Organization on
the basis that it pledged nonviolence. However, only Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas promised a policy of nonviolence, while Hamas leader
Ismail Haniyeh unsurprisingly said the unity government “aims to unite the
Palestinian people against the prime enemy, the Zionist enemy,” and “it aims to
pursue the choice of resistance and steadfastness.” How could President Carter
possibly expect Israel to accept this government? Even if Hamas did pledge
nonviolence, why would Israel have any reason to trust it? Hamas’s terrorist
campaign relies on unpredictable acts of violence, Mr. President.
He next calls for a partial lifting of
the blockade, but all evidence suggests that would lead to more terrorist
activities that aim to endanger Israel’s citizens. Hamas used the cement that
entered Gaza to build threatening tunnels instead of schools and hospitals as
Israel and the rest of the international community assumed. Let’s also not
forget that a few months ago Israel intercepted a ship heading to Gaza that
contained advanced weapons from Iran. President Carter suggests that a UN
Security Council resolution should employ international monitors to report on
movements in and out of Gaza. However, the international community should never
force Israel to relinquish the right to defend its own country, especially in
the violent neighborhood it lives in. Only when Israel feels secure not just
from Hamas but from all other forces within the Middle East seeking its
destruction should it lift the blockade.
I find it appalling that President
Carter chooses to emphasize Israel’s alleged illegal conduct in this war while
making little mention of Hamas’s actions. This terrorist organization uses its
own civilians as human shields and hides rockets in hospitals and schools – but
I suppose that’s not worth mentioning. And yes, too many innocent Palestinian civilians
have been killed, far more than innocent Israeli civilians. The disparity
between the numbers may compel some to conclude, as President Carter has, that Israel
uses deliberate attacks on civilians. However, the high death toll results from
Gaza’s extremely high population density in an urban setting and Hamas’s use of
civilian areas as launching grounds. Claiming that Israel intentionally targets
civilians manipulates the unfortunate circumstances of this situation entirely.
I am most astonished by his
concluding remarks in which he calls for the United States and EU to recognize
Hamas’s legitimacy. In other words, President Carter, you call for the United
States and EU to recognize a terrorist organization’s legitimacy. What kind of
precedent does this set for other terrorist groups around the world? The
Western world must adopt a zero tolerance policy for these violent forces. Recognizing
Hamas’s legitimacy only embeds hope into organizations like ISIS and Boko Haram
who seek to dominate a country where they can instill their brutal and
repugnant practices. What zeal they must gain to continue their ruthless
tactics when they see the freest country in the world making concessions to
Hamas. As a former leader of that country, President Carter should know better.
Israel deserves better than this article from its strongest ally.
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