The Movement for Reform Judaism

That was  the message last week in Yediot Achronot, Israel’s leading tabloid, by Amos Oz, arguably the best known Israeli in the world. His reasons are compelling and reflect much of the spirit of Israel as I know it.     

1. To go back to Gaza is to fall into the trap of Hamas. The terrorists thrive on victimhood and martyrdom. Having Israeli soldiers in their midst would allow them to kill and kidnap them. The number of Israeli casualties in such a campaign would be infinitely greater than those caused in the seven years of barrage on Sderot. For this wouldn’t be a brief sortie but a continuous indefinite presence with no hope for Hamas capitulating or an international force replacing the Israeli army.   

2. During five of the seven years of Qassam rockets Gaza was under Israeli occupation, yet the rockets couldn’t be stopped. There’s nothing to suggest that they could be stopped now. On the contrary, Hamas weaponry has become more sophisticated.   

3. Re-occupying Gaza would galvanize the Palestinians (even the opponents of Hamas) as well as the Arab states in the region in their hatred of and opposition to Israel. And the international community would join in the condemnations. At present, by all accounts, the popularity of Hamas is on the decline. The hardships are turning many Palestinians into Hamas opponents. Israel must not give the terrorists what they desire most: martyrdom. That’s why returning to Gaza would be a perfect trap set by Hamas.   

4. We must not forget, Oz tells us, the underlying cause of the success of Hamas - the misery of the population of Gaza. Much of it is caused by the poverty and squalor in which most of them live. To live without hope is to be available for desperate actions such as suicide bombings. Hamas knows how to capitalize on the despair by offering heroic martyrdom as a way of regaining lost dignity.   

Amos Oz suggests, therefore, that the only way of stopping the rockets is to negotiate a cease-fire with Hamas. He knows that it won’t be easy but he believes that it’s possible. His belief is reinforced by many analysts I’ve heard and read of late. They too think that Hamas would want a cease-fire (“hudna”) because it cannot indefinitely play the martyrdom card – unless Israel gives it new ammunition.    

True, the ideology of Hamas will never allow for recognition of Israel, but it could allow for cessation of hostilities – temporarily and indefinitely. Israel should take advantage of it rather than quixotically assuming that its military power will defeat terrorism. It should have learnt its lesson from its foray into Lebanon 18 months ago.
   

If Israel goes back into Gaza it would be not because of sober judgment but out of short-term political expediency to appease hawkish opponents. It’s the worst possible reason. Let’s hope that those in power will not ignore Oz.

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