Regaining balance or facing metaphysical conflict

These days world public attention has been drawn to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Operation Pillar of Defense [otherwise known as Operation “Pillar of Cloud”]. It was launched on November 14, 2012, killing 109 Palestinians, with almost 50 percent being peaceful civilians. Three Israeli armymen were killed by Palestinian rockets. Over 900 Palestinians are listed as wounded, writes Euronews, referring to Gaza Strip medical reports.

Monday became the bloodiest day in the history of this confrontation, despite Egypt’s frantic effort to find a solution to the problem. Israel and Hamas couldn’t work out a ceasefire agreement. Israeli forces are deployed on the Gaza Strip border, prepared to start ground combat operations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel hopes for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged both sides to immediately stop firing at each other. He said he was flying to Cairo to hold ceasefire talks. On November 20, 2012, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton interrupted her trip to southeast Asia and flew to Israel to try to settle the conflict with Palestine.

The Day asked Ihor SEMYVOLOS, CEO, Middle East Study Center, for comment – particularly what was the actual cause of another armed conflict; whether Israel’s response to the Palestine rocket attacks was adequate, and whether there existed a solution to the problem.

“The whole situation looks as though Israel was forced to start this war, owing to the elections soon to take place there. Last time, the Kadima Party could have collected extra ballots, owing to Operation Cast Lead (Gaza Strip, 2009), but failed to form a Knesset majority. Likud is trying to follow in Kadima’s footsteps. Israel’s right-wing cabinet has a number of right-minded members, including Minister of the Interior Eliyahu ‘Eli’ Yishai, who is personally tasked with handling the Gaza Strip, and who presides over the local populace terrorism relief committee.

“This is one of the key issues in their political career, so they believe that what’s happening is the best time to pull off this blitzkrieg stunt, thus to put an end to all enemy activities in the Gaza Strip, reaching strategic and [personal political] targets.

“The West appears to take a dim view of all this, being concerned about inner problems, including public unrest, EU instability, and so their response to what is happening in the Middle East is a restrained one. I think that, just as the death toll increases there, the EU diplomatic facilities will show a more active performance. Today Arab countries appear to be the most active performers, including Egypt and even Turkey. Most analysts agree that Egypt will play the key peacemaking role, just as all agree that the situation has changed since 2009, with the brotherly Muslim countries being no longer able to watch on, doing nothing about what is happening in the Gaza Strip. This means additional risks for Israel, considering the open passage from Gaza Strip to Egypt that spells weapons and volunteer supplies. In other words, Israel won’t get the results it wants.

“Prime ministers are expected to gather in the Gaza Strip shortly. The overall situation shows no evidence that Israel has reached its goal. I also think that Israel has stirred up a hornet’s nest.”

President Obama, visiting Thailand, said: “There is no country on earth that would tolerate missiles raining down on its citizens from outside its borders.” Chancellor Angela Merkel’s official stressed that Germany blames Hamas guerillas for the armed conflict, considering their rocket attacks on Israel. In other words, no criticism of Israel in the West.

“As usual, this is a double-edged sword. There is the right of self-defense and abuse of this right. In our case the death toll is increasing exponentially, with most victims being innocent civilians, children and women. Pressed by world public opinion, the situation will change, depending on how long this conflict will last. If it lasts too long, the Israelis won’t be able to stop any terrorist activities.

“Apparently the whole thing started with Hamas guerillas operating on Israel’s borders. Another escalating factor was that the Gaza Strip residents were sick and tired of being constantly besieged by Israel. At one point, a response to self-defense appears to be adequate, but after killing a hundred people it becomes inadequate and one can expect a different response from the West.”

How do you think the conflict between Palestine and Israel can be settled? I heard the BBC’s interview with a Qatar official who said that his country will recognize Israel only after Palestine is acknowledged with its 1967 frontiers.

“Let me tell you the way I see the situation. The key problem with settling the conflict is that the Palestinians were left facing the Israelis for a long period of time, so there was an imbalance of power and authority during the talks, with Israel and Palestinian autonomy thrown on the scales. The PLO wasn’t recognized as a body politic so the Palestinians couldn’t influence Israel’s decisions. Tel Aviv was happy about what was happening. There was little political pressure and all Israel had to do was accept the rules of the game during the talks, agreeing to withdraw all settlements from the occupied areas and vacate East Jerusalem (precisely what Qatar wanted).

“Israel says a resolute no, regarding this as a suicidal option. There are 250,000 people living on the West Bank, including radical, religiously motivated communities. There is no logic for a religious radical, only symbols. Under the circumstances, Palestinians had to arrange for public unrest – in the long run this resulted in peace talks – but then public unrest got out of control, bringing Israel and Palestine against a brick wall. There is no roundtable alternative. There should be another way to correct this imbalance. Israel have to choose between withdrawing troops from the Gaza Strip recognizing the Palestinian State, and waging another war, with unpredictable consequences. Israel is facing no such choice, so I will not discuss this option.”

Now that President Obama has been re-elected, with Egypt being different than under Hosni Mubarak, can this situation be improved?

“Americans say they are closely watching Egypt and expect its plan to work. A perfectly normal response under the circumstances. Washington isn’t handing out any gifts while stressing that it keeps a sensitive finger on political pulse, consulting with forces that are actually interested in settling this conflict. The way this problem will be solved will be especially important for Egypt’s brotherly Muslim countries.”

Do you see a way of settling this conflict that will satisfy Palestine and Israel?

“Have you ever seen any such ways in the Middle East? I’m an optimist, but I’m sure that Palestinians will always come up with an allegation that will frustrate any such options. Israel has its shortcomings. Of late they have been increasingly involved in some sort of mysticism. Their religion has been a mounting obstacle in the way of any kind of analysis. All this looks like some sort of metaphysical conflict likely to end with the end of the world.”