Israel Matzav

Arabs: Israel's elimination no longer unattainable

Fatah and Hamas are discussing a 'unity government' this evening, with one Fatah official telling the Jerusalem Post:

The two sides believe that in the wake of the Israel-Hizbullah war, the best thing for the Palestinians at this stage is to be united. That's why we are working hard to persuade Hamas to accept the idea of a national unity government that would see both parties in power. We believe the next phase carries serious challenges for the Palestinians.

A 'Palestinian Authority' official said that Hamas is divided over the initiative, with Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh in favor and 'others' (presumably politburo chief Khaled Meshaal) opposed.

The 'Palestinians' are hoping that with the cease fire in Lebanon, the world's attention will shift back to them. Additionally, negotiations are going on between Hamas and Egyptian 'mediators' for the release of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped from Israel on June 25.

There are also defiant words coming out of 'Palestinian' quarters this evening. Words that Israel's leadership ought to take seriously. Whatever deterrent we had against the 'Palestinians' has been eroded by the failure to produce a clear victory in Lebanon. The Post reports:

"The conflict could resume and even deteriorate into a regional war," said PA Information Minister Yusef Rizkah of Hamas. "The war has taught us that resistance should be a key factor in resolving the problems of Lebanon and Palestine."

Rizkah said the war united Arabs and Muslims around the world "because now they are looking forward to achieving freedom and dignity." He added: "If anything, this war has shattered the myth of the invincible [Israeli] army and [shown] that the Israelis are unable to confront the strong determination and will of Muslim fighters."

The "defeat" [I would not have put that in quotes - that's the Post's doing. CiJ] of the IDF in Lebanon, he added, marks the beginning of the regression of the Zionist project in the Middle East. "Israel will fail in Palestine the same way it failed in Lebanon," he said. "Israel failed to score real achievements despite 30 days of destruction. This is remarkable if we take into consideration the fact that Israel defeated many Arab armies in 1967."

Emboldened by what they perceive as the Hizbullah "victory" over Israel, several writers and commentators in the Arab world have begun openly discussing the possibility of destroying Israel. In a series of articles in the Palestinian and Arab media, many of them said that the poor performance of the IDF in the war proved that the elimination of Israel is no longer unattainable.

Palestinian political commentator Mustafa Sawwaf, analyzing the results of the war, wrote on Monday that it was now obvious that the IDF had lost its credibility and reputation as the strongest army in the region.

"This war has also harmed Israel's deterrence capability," he said. "Israel's deterrence force is gone forever and this revives hopes in the Arab world of confronting Israel in the future. The war has also affirmed that Islam constitutes a real threat to Israel, which now realizes that its end is close despite the military power it possesses."

For bringing this debacle on us, Olmert must go!

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:37 PM