Who wants Gaza?
The Egyptians kept tight controls on its borders when they had responsibility between 1948 and 1967. They let few of the residents into Egypt for education or work. Since 1967, Egyptians have been assiduous in avoiding a commitment. They warned that persistent attacks on Israeli civilians were sure to bring a fierce reprisal, and.are blaming Hamas for what has happened.
Gaza is congested and poor. About one and one-half million people live in an area less than 25 miles from southwest to northeast, and three to eight miles wide. There are high rise blocks and grand homes for the elite. The mass of the population occupies low structures along twisting alleys, some of them no more than a meter wide. Donkey carts provide transportation for people who cannot afford more, and for others when gasoline is scarce. Before 1967, Gaza was a source of terror raids into Israel, and a target of Israeli reprisals. Its traditions of extremism, combined with an increase in religious fervor make it an obvious ally of Iran, and something to be walled off by Israel and Egypt.
In recent months Gaza has become a bone in the throat of West Bank Palestinians who say that they aspire to an independent state alongside of Israel. A sporadic civil war between 2006 and 2008 left Hamas in control of Gaza, and swearing that it would destroy Israel. Currently the West Bank leaders of Fatah and Hamas are accusing each other of collaborating with Israel. There is little evidence for either charge, but there is no greater curse that one Palestinian can hurl at another.
What to do with Gaza? is one reason that Israel waited so long before embarking on a military assault to end missiles fired at its population, and an explanation for its delay in beginning a land invasion.
The media say that any attack by tanks and ground troops will be limited: targeting specific installations or people, and leaving after a short time.
Like just about everyone else, Israel does not want Gaza. It's been there, and will avoid a prolonged stay.
More than 400 deaths and 2,000 injured, plus a great deal of destruction renders further responsibility unenviable.
Ideally, Hamas will raise the white flags, and agree to behave according to international norms.
I doubt that any Israeli expects that.
Death for the sake of religious certainty is the rationale of Hamas and its allies. Suicide is a prominent form of political expression.
Nobody aspires to control them. Israeli authorities are certain that they cannot beat them into submission.
They might beat them into recognizing the costs of attacking Israeli civilians, and persuade someone else to clean up and prevent further attacks against Israel.
If someone out there has a better idea, please let me know.
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Ira Sharkansky (Emeritus)
Dept of Political Science
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
msira@mscc.huji.ac.il
Tel: +972-2-532-2725
Fax: +972-2-582-9144