During his recent visit to the U.S. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he would never make peace with Hamas. That is like saying that the U.S. will never make peace with North Korea, Iran or Soviet Russia.

Making peace with one’s enemies is a necessary part of responsible governance.  Engaging one’s enemies on the field of battle is easy. Engaging them in diplomacy and negotiation is the test of true leadership.

I am the son of a Jew and a staunch defender of Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.  I am also an American that has had about all he can stand of Imperial Israel.

As president Obama is embroiled in domestic battles over health reform and the war in Afghanistan, he cannot afford to burn the political candle at both ends. So it is not expected that a hard-line stance will be postured toward Israel – yet.  But soon; very soon, I expect the Obama administration to announce an alliance with the Palestinians that will shake the very foundations of Israeli-U.S. relations.

And it’s about friggin’ time.

If the Obama administration does not, it will be because of a political fire storm – not a matter of right or wrong.

In many ways, I tend to agree with Netanyahu. Hamas is a bunch of organized crime jerks that have more invested in their protection racket in Gaza than in the fate and hopes of the Palestinian people. Like many in the Middle East, Hamas brokers power from its opposition to Israel.  And power is money. Power is influence.  A cessation of hostility means a cessation of power.

Israel can reduce Hamas’ power by giving aid and comfort to the average Palestinian. By agreeing to non-aggression packs and dealing with Hamas as a ‘hostel entity’ but nevertheless deal with them and pursue agreements that dilute Hamas’ power. They instead strengthen Hamas by taking an imperial approach to dealings. And it is neither in their best interest or the Palestinian people’s best interest to do so.

If Israel took the position that they would “Deal with the Devil” if it meant a secure and prosperous Middle East… they would find many more options for dealing with Hamas than they find today.

Hamas will be its own destruction when Israel is no longer a threat to a Palestinian state. The same is true of Hezbollah, Iran and other extremists. An aggressive and assertive push for an autonomous Palestinian state will pull the legs out from under Israel’s staunchest foes. The U.S. and the E.U. will champion any attempt to create such a state. Israel could ‘steamroll’ its enemies with a powerful diplomatic agenda.

But alas, they will not. Because they are so near-sighted and narcissistic, they will push some of their most avid supports into guarantees of security for a Palestinian state. If they do not move to make such guarantees themselves, the U.S. and E.U. may very well have to do so unilaterally.

JB

More to Read:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/22/obama-lays-groundwork-peace-israel-palestinians/

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