Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
IDF Kills Hamas Boss
Yahya Sinwar was the head of Hamas. The Israeli Defense Forces killed him in combat on Wednesday in a small gun fight. The members of the 828th Bislamach Brigade who were on patrol and fired the killing shots did not realize they had killed the enemy's top dog until dental and DNA records were checked. The Israelis had this because Mr. Sinwar had been in Israeli prison for 22 years. With his passing, some see an opportunity to deliver a cease-fire, free the hostages and start building a new relationship between Gaza and Israel. While this journal sheds no tears for the late terrorist, one should not believe his removal from the chess board changes the overall picture. Iran will pick a new leader, and on the fighting shall go.
Mr. Sinwar masterminded the October 7 attack on Israel that began this whole unpleasantness. That is not to say things in Gaza were a delight on October 6, but rather, the nastiness of it all grew exponentially the next day. One can hold him entirely responsible for that, and he is partially responsible for the devastation in Gaza that followed. Mr. Netanyahu bears the rest. One must also remember that neither man wanted peace. They have had ample opportunity to do so, and the attitudes are unchanged since this time last year.
Hamas is a tool of Iran, and Iran will either pick a new leader or allow one to emerge. At the moment, a chaotic situation exists because terrorist organizations have no clear line of succession. Politiciking, back-scratching and bribery is the order of the day. As a result, one should not expect a drive for a cease-fire from that side. No moderate is going to be allowed to lead given the Iranian interests in the area.
Mr. Netanyahu has no interest in a cease-fire either. He has a serious interest in staying in office, and that is unlikely to happen once the fighting is over. Thus far, despite the major security lapse of October 7, he has convinced the Israeli people not to change horses midstream. Were he to leave office, he would be prosecuted for his frauds and perhaps tried for the failures of last year. So for him, the war must go on. If Hamas were to offer an olive branch, he might accept it while escalating his fight with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Moreover, he is still threatening to strike at Iran for its missile attack a couple of weeks ago. A direct confrontation with Iran might keep him in office indefinitely.
For its part, Iran is not particularly interested in ending the hostilities either. It is in a fight with Sunni Islam, led by Saudi Arabia, for influence in the region. Israel has de facto joined the Sunni states. One must remember that Iran is not a normal country focused as the regime is on Islamic government. Compromise on fundamental religious belief just does not happen. Iran will continue as it has until it gets an overwhelming reason to do otherwise, and it must be delivered forcefully. That is not on the horizon either.
The reality is that the Palestinian people have no interest in continuing this war. If the hostages come back, the Israeli people have no interest in going on with the fight. Hamas, however, must continue the fight or lose its image as a group willing and able to fight the Zionists. Mr. Netanyahu, as above, has no desire to stop.
So, the Palestinian and Israeli peoples need new leaders interested in peace. If that cannot come from the ballot box, other avenues are open to them. The bottom line is that if they do not rise up, they will continue to be beaten down. Two revolutions are necessary for peace. The ball is with the common people, and if they act in their own self-interests, then there is hope. And only then.
And if they do not, what follows is probably what they deserve.
© Copyright 2024 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
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