Israel/Palestine: The Latest War – Repercussions and Conseuqences. KGNU Hemispheres – Middle East Dialogues. May 25, 2021

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As we noted, the cause of peace will not be advanced unless and until Washington and the Israeli government negotiate with all of their adversaries – and that includes Hamas. Hamas is a reality in Gaza (and the West Bank and Israel of 1948) now even more so than prior to the fighting. It’s about time the United States recognizes this reality, enters into talks with Hamas and all Palestinian elements to work towards a political settlement and peace

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The fighting between the Israeli government and the Palestinians – in Gaza, the West Bank and within Israel of 48 has temporarily in place. A ceasefire has gone into effect, one that, immediately, after it came into effect, the Netanyahu government brazenly – once again – violated by letting loose vigilantes on the al Aksa Mosque – third most holy site for Islam and by continuing its ethnic cleansing and expulsion of Palestinians from the Sheik Jaffer neighborhood of Jerusalem. This is nothing new but par for the course. Israel has a long history of signing ceasefires and then immediately violating them, especially where it concerns the Palestinians.

The problem is that this time, Netanyahu is risking the war escalating to a regional level. He seems to prefer that than to implement a cease fire and momentum towards negotiation which almost certainly will result in his political demise.

The United States, through its Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, is trying to organize some kind of cease fire and for that he has traveled to Israel, spoken with the Netanyahu government (and Netanyahu himself) and also visited Ramallah in the West Bank where he met with Mohammed Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authorty, which these days has very littl authority indeed. Blinken has made a point of not speaking to Hamas or Islamic Jihad although the influence of these organizations in Gaza and beyond has soared in the wake of this round of military confrontation.

As we noted in this program, the cause of peace will not be advanced unless and until Washington and the Israeli government negotiate with all of their adversaries – and that includes Hamas. Hamas is a reality in Gaza (and the West Bank and Israel of 1948) now even more so than prior to the fighting. It’s about time the United States recognizes this reality, enters into talks with Hamas and all Palestinian elements to work towards a political settlement.

Negotiations don’t mean anything unless you talk to those with whom you are in disagreement.