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It gets worse before it gets better

Reader comment on item: Expert predicts more violence in Gaza

Submitted by Boris (United States), Sep 30, 2005 at 22:05

I respectfully disagree with Dr. Pipes on this topic. I don't see the disengagement as a sign of concession or encouragement to terrorists. I don't think we should care much about how Hamas and their freinds feel or what do they think about Israel's withdrawal from Gaza. If they feel encouraged to continue their jihad - good luck. I think disengagement has changed a fundamental nature of this war - from internal insurgency in the occupied territory to a conflict between two separate administrative entities.

To me, this aspect makes all the difference. Americans say: "if you break it - you own it". Israel decided to stop owning the land of Gaza. If they don't own it, they don't have to fix it. Yes, palestinians are thirsty for more. Yes, they will launch more attacks hoping to gain more concessions. To me it look more like a trap for palestinians. This is a different ballgame. This is no longer a guerilla war in the occupied land. This is a war between two countries - the State Israel and de-facto the State of Gaza. Palestinians will do everything to avoid declaration of the new state - this act will automatically put them in the state of the official war between two independent nations, which palestinians will inevitably lose.

You may notice a very interesting trend in the modern conflicts in the Middle East - wars between states are no longer in fashion. Islamic nations after their failures in 1949, 1956, 1967 and 1973 clearly understood that they cannot win battles conducted on behalf of their governments. Their only chance is to win on behalf of their religion, where they can get some sympathy and support under a slogan of religious freedom. Israel is trying to turn the conflict back to the conflict between states. They are trying to clearly define and demonstrate who specifically their enemy is - not an amorphic group of islamic freedom fighters, but rather specific country with their specific leaders. Think it is very wise, although it may get worse before it gets better.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (24) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Just following the Road Map [1431 words]c sApr 24, 2007 16:1990516
We Needed An Expert For This? [100 words]orange yonasonOct 7, 2005 18:4526690
Small sacrifice during the wake of the Third World War [212 words]John BastileOct 5, 2005 02:5726604
It is time for the Arab world to make concessions [67 words]NicolaOct 3, 2005 09:4426557
time to experiment [163 words]Donald OOct 1, 2005 17:2226518
Oil, The Life Blood of the World [293 words]WalterOct 1, 2005 16:3126515
Mr.Walter : Oil Crisis and Solution [393 words]kanadanuOct 6, 2005 08:2126515
Response to kanadanu [298 words]WalterOct 7, 2005 01:2126515
Forgetting the Big Picture [546 words]J. MacallApr 24, 2007 03:2926515
terrorism [47 words]naqviMay 22, 2008 13:5526515
Gaza Pullout, Israeli version of the Munich Pact of 1938 [159 words]Darwin BarrettOct 1, 2005 09:3426509
One & Only Solution to Arab-Israel Problem [764 words]KanadSep 30, 2005 23:3426502
Kanad and Darwin Barrett - my opinion [472 words]Mohammed Saleem AkhtarOct 1, 2005 17:3926502
It gets worse before it gets better [347 words]BorisSep 30, 2005 22:0526499
1Isarel and Palestine Conflict [56 words]ChablakaFeb 5, 2006 22:0926499
Sharon's Triton [339 words]yuval brandstetterSep 30, 2005 15:3226494
Pull Out Strategy [201 words]WalterSep 30, 2005 02:4826479
Political Drama in Gaza [646 words]Aidan MaconachySep 30, 2005 01:5126477
Abbas as Man of Good Intentions [64 words]Mark RothSep 29, 2005 20:3826470
Hamas, Al-Aqsa and Islamic Jihad must be eliminated [134 words]Mohammed Saleem AkhtarSep 29, 2005 19:1026468
1Al-Qaida Plan: Islamic World in 15 Years [386 words]KanadSep 29, 2005 14:1926462
Kanad is very much right [69 words]Amitabh tripathiSep 30, 2005 00:5726462
Daniel Pipes will be proven right again [270 words]Amitabh tripathiSep 29, 2005 14:1326460
You don't say!! [350 words]Ami IsseroffSep 29, 2005 11:1226448

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