For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it's blown up in our faces

[marble falls]

For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it’s blown up in our faces

The premier’s policy of treating the terror group as a partner, at the expense of Abbas and Palestinian statehood, has resulted in wounds that will take Israel years to heal from

By Tal Schneider

8 October 2023, 3:58 pm

https://www.timesofisrael.com/for-years-netanyahu-propped-up-hamas-now-its-blown-up-in-our-faces/

For years, the various governments led by Benjamin Netanyahu took an approach that divided power between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — bringing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to his knees while making moves that propped up the Hamas terror group.

Thus, amid this bid to impair Abbas, Hamas was upgraded from a mere terror group to an organization with which Israel held indirect negotiations via Egypt, and one that was allowed to receive infusions of cash from abroad.

-snip-

Most of the time, Israeli policy was to treat the Palestinian Authority as a burden and Hamas as an asset. Far-right MK Bezalel Smotrich, now the finance minister in the hardline government and leader of the Religious Zionism party, said so himself in 2015.

According to various reports, Netanyahu made a similar point at a Likud faction meeting in early 2019, when he was quoted as saying that those who oppose a Palestinian state should support the transfer of funds to Gaza, because maintaining the separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.


-snip-

[RandySF]

1. You're not wrong about Netanyahu.

He defiantly helped to poison the well.

[marble falls]

3. Been following him since the 90s, including the corruption charges he and his son had to beat in court ...

... he was facing jail. His excuse was Trumpian: Being PM naturally made him so many business opportunities, that he just attached himself to some iffy ones, but that no intent to breaks laws ever even occurred to him.

[msongs]

2. it's all going to plan nt

[marble falls]

4. Yep. If you'd like some more insight, Benny Morris a respected Israeli historian just wrote this OP in Times ...

... basically: Natinyahu has guaranteed a forever war and there is no good way out of it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/11/opinion/israel-hamas-rafah-gaza.html

[Mountainguy]

5. Which of the things that "propped up" Hamas are you saying they shouldn't have done, specifically?

Thus, amid this bid to impair Abbas, Hamas was upgraded from a mere terror group to an organization with which Israel held indirect negotiations via Egypt, and one that was allowed to receive infusions of cash from abroad.

Hamas was also included in discussions about increasing the number of work permits Israel granted to Gazan laborers, which kept money flowing into Gaza, meaning food for families and the ability to purchase basic products.

Israeli officials said these permits, which allow Gazan laborers to earn higher salaries than they would in the enclave, were a powerful tool to help preserve calm.


Toward the end of Netanyahu’s fifth government in 2021, approximately 2,000-3,000 work permits were issued to Gazans. This number climbed to 5,000 and, during the Bennett-Lapid government, rose sharply to 10,000

So they should have prevented funds and aid to entering Gaza, not let anyone leave or even enter Israel for work, and also never negotiate with them?

And let's not act like the PA is any better than Hamas considering they pay ransoms to families of anyone captured or killed while killing Jews.

[marble falls]

7. It's not the what of his agreement but the why ...

... And if you read the whole article (four paragraphs are just not enough) that question is completely answered.

Netanyahu used jobs to fund Hamas by the back door. To get Hamas to the level to counter the Palestinian Authority.

"Thus, amid this bid to impair Abbas, Hamas was upgraded from a mere terror group to an organization with which Israel held indirect negotiations via Egypt, and one that was allowed to receive infusions of cash from abroad.

Hamas was also included in discussions about increasing the number of work permits Israel granted to Gazan laborers, which kept money flowing into Gaza, meaning food for families and the ability to purchase basic products.

Israeli officials said these permits, which allow Gazan laborers to earn higher salaries than they would in the enclave, were a powerful tool to help preserve calm."

Since Netanyahu returned to power in January 2023, the number of work permits has soared to nearly 20,000."


The significance of this are the five or so paragraphs following following this at the link. I always try to answer my questioning of an excerpt by reading the article at the link.



Thank goodness Democratic Underground went to court to give us even four paragraphs. Democratic Underground is a big reason we can get so much information form so many sources. And that is fact. Please read the rest of the article.

[hlthe2b]

6. I find it fascinating that Israeli media covers this (and Israelis as a whole seem to agree)...

in dramatic contrast to a lot (not all) MSM in the US and quite a few Americans. Even here this seems to be an inconvenient truth for a few. IMO, he was an enabler of October 7 in multiple ways--whether unintentional or via some combination of wanton political expediency* gone bad and incompetence.





*Good heavens, even on this thread his self-serving political expediency to ensure the support of far RW in Israel --not merely limited to pushing for West Bank settlements-- is somehow ignored as though Netanyahu's simultaneous personal blessing for support to Hamas via the Qataris was somehow an altruistic act for the Palestinians. How about his failure to respond to the official report of Hamas' plan provided to him by FEMALE members of his IDF (now that's a clue) nearly a year before or even on the day, October 7, his failure to respond to those under attack by Hamas for as much as 13 hours while the horror went forward. Yet, support for Netanyahu appears firm from a few. Such blatant indifferent and expedient support by the RW in Congress, I get. But others need their blinders removed. Netanyahu is a crook, a liar, and wants Trump* to be back in the WH. He walks the line (barely) between open attack of Biden--who has provided the full and immediate support the Israeli people deserve. But, now that Biden is reeling in the Israeli response to ensure they do not become the essence of what they are fighting in their tactics--with total disregard for innocent civilian life--he is coming as close as we've seen to crossing that line into the equivalent of a Trump endorsement. Blinders, folks. Blinders. Take 'em off.

[marble falls]

8. Have you seen this? Even more detailed ...

‘Buying Quiet’: Inside the Israeli Plan That Propped Up Hamas

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gambled that a strong Hamas (but not too strong) would keep the peace and reduce pressure for a Palestinian state.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/10/world/middleeast/israel-qatar-money-prop-up-hamas.html

[GiqueCee]

9. Nothing about this fiasco...

... is a good look for Bibi. It all stinks, and everyone suffers.

[marble falls]

10. Exactly right. Both Israelis and Palestinians in Gaza have been terribly mislead by their leaders, and the ...

look of this entire umglik/karitha is terrible for leaders on both sides.

When elephants wrestle only the grass suffers.