[Dean's World] Ali Eteraz: The New Strategy on Hamas

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Posted by Ali Eteraz:
The New Strategy on Hamas
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1167261023.shtml


   IHT [1]argues that the old strategy -- isolate Hamas, strengthen
   Fatah, extract Israeli concessions -- of dealing with Hamas is wrong.
   Instead:

     There is an alternative, and though it, too, is uncertain, it is
     far less risky or bloody, and hardly has been given a chance. Hamas
     wants to govern effectively -- that is, without a crippling
     international siege and Israeli military operations. Although it is
     not willing to formally renounce violence, it is prepared to abide
     by a comprehensive cease- fire, and has proved its ability to
     implement it when Israel fully reciprocates.

     Hamas is willing to deal directly with Israel on day-to- day
     matters, indirectly on more substantive ones. It will acquiesce in
     negotiations between Abbas and Olmert and abide by any agreement
     ratified by popular referendum.

     Hamas will not, however, recognize Israel. That's unfortunate. But
     is it really worth plunging the region into greater chaos because
     Hamas will not confer upon Israel the legitimacy the Jewish state
     is granted by virtually every nation in the world?

     This alternative is one Abbas advocated from the start, which is
     why he chose to promote the Islamists' entry into political life in
     the first place and why he courageously resisted repeated pressure
     -- foreign but also, sadly, domestic -- to violently confront
     Hamas. His resistance, apparently, may be running out. Faced with
     Western inflexibility and Islamist obstinacy, he is being forced
     down a violent path for which he was not made and from which he is
     unlikely to survive as Palestinian leader.

   I want you guys to start noticing a pattern in the Muslim world which
   I've been noticing ever since I started blogging: often times, when
   given the option (democracy), Muslims will choose very anti-American
   very ultra-conservative governments. This is Fareed Zakaria's point in
   [2]Illiberal Democracies. It shows that democracy, as such, is not the
   short-term solution. It can be the long term solution, but only with
   institutions.

   I made this point brilliantly, hilariously, excruciatingly exactly in
   one of my earliest posts: [3]Sex Speak, Hamass, Fareek and Democratic
   Peace. It was the post which announced my arrival and one commentator
   called it the best blog post ever. I agree with him. Love it or not,
   but the fact is that the professors are realizing what I said at the
   beginning of the year.

   As such, our strategies should focus on how to [DEL: trick :DEL]
   convince Hamas and other ultra-conservative "we are going to act all
   hard because bluster is all we know" Muslim groups into sharing our
   vision of the world.

   I laid one way of doing that in [4]How To Talk To An Islamist.

References

   1. http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/12/27/opinion/edsiegman.php
   2. http://www.fareedzakaria.com/ARTICLES/other/democracy.html
   3. http://eteraz.wordpress.com/2006/01/26/sex-speak-un-kant-hamass-fareek-democratic-peace/
   4. http://www.democracyarsenal.org/2006/11/single_most_imp.html