Mideast Violence
June 18, 2007
Everyone supports Mahmoud Abbas: the United States, the United Nations and the European Union. Israel also sets big hopes on the Palestinian president after the military victory of Hamas in the Gaza Strip. As far as the current situation goes, Abbas has earned this broad support.
The violent frenzy of the Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip cannot be excused as a justifiable protest against discrimination or corruption--it is a coup against political institutions. Hamas has deepened the split of the Palestinian nation. And Hamas has made the population of the Gaza Strip hostage to a policy that could drive the region to increasingly hopeless isolation and poverty.
A future without Hamas?
In this situation, it seems unlikely that the international community will completely abandon the Palestinians. The lifting of the embargo put in place a year and a half ago after the election victory of Hamas now seems feasible for the West Bank. That would clearly strengthen Abbas and his moderate course vis-à-vis Israel. And it is also a clear show of faith for the new, Hamas-free transitional cabinet under the existing Palestinian finance minister Salam Fayyad.
Israel's Prime Minster Ehud Olmert can already imagine a peace treaty "without Hamas." This position has takers in both the US and Europe. But caution is warranted. Hamas is and remains a considerable power factor with popularity beyond the Gaza Strip.
After all, the Islamists won the last elections with an absolute majority and in this case justifiably demanded a share of power.
Preventing humanitarian disaster
The international community is presented with a difficult challenge: it should never accept terror or the Hamas-declared goal of destroying Israel. But the international community should also not take sides in an internal Palestinian power struggle. Apart from strengthening Abbas, steps should be taken to make contact with moderate powers within Hamas and to assist them if necessary.
There's no disputing that an Abbas-controlled West Bank would be the better model for a future Palestinian state and should be treated and supported accordingly. But at the same time, it's important to avoid allowing the Gaza Strip to drift completely into a humanitarian disaster. The people there should not be punished for failed Hamas policies. That would only lead to further radicalization and violence.
Rainer Sollich is head of the Arabic Service of DW-RADIO (th)