The insoluble Mideast crises are taking turns one after the other and US-Israeli efforts to alienate Hamas in Gaza are dashing down to the ground with the new strength that Hamas is gaining in the west Bank.
Well, it was expected to happen. Hamas is indispensable for the peace and stability of the entire Mideast and it can’t be achieved if Palestinians remain divided. After Hamas’ violent takeover of Gaza, if it successfully pursues the same in West Bank, it will be turning of the dice while at the same time will nullify the chances of any truce with Israel.
Fatah led West Bank is too week to encounter any threat from Hamas or Israel and to stay on US aid and Israel’s maneuverings will not serve Fatah’s purpose in the long run. The policy to boycott Hamas has indeed been a flaw and counterproductive. There is need to change the policies for fruitful outcome on either (West backed Israel or Hamas) side. On the other hand, there remains dilemma as to who will win - those who support dialogue with Hamas, or those who are against it.
Therefore, with Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, Hamas-Fatah faction clashes, grim scenario in Iraq, challenges in Lebanon, and occupied Palestinian territories, the peace and stability in Mideast seems a far cry. If Hamas takes over the West Bank, it’ll be a total debacle of the whole Mideast. So, there is no reason to ignore Hamas on the grounds that Israel and US want the world to believe that Hamas poses a threat to the West. Even if it is so, this risk is worth taking for stabilizing the region.
Finally, it is better to unite Hamas in the main stream to end the violence than to disown, because Hamas may be silent in West Bank right now, but can’t be ignored. On the other hand, US should realize that its massive support to Israel (moral and arms) is one of the reasons for Muslim world’s anti-US drive, which makes it more prone to terror attacks. So, if US and Israel will follow the same policies to blast Hamas, it will strengthen the conflict knot tied tightly by Islamic chauvinists and will ward-off any attempt to stabilize the explosive Middle East.
