“It’s unfortunate, but every once in a while you have to mow the lawn.”
This remark as applied by Israel in its fight with the Palestinians describes Israel’s killing of hundreds of women, men and children periodically every few years as the pendulum swings from peace to war and back again in the Middle East. The latest mowing…July 2014.
Those who follow the news know a few months earlier peace negotiations between Israel and Palestinians broke down or rather I should say predictably stalled. In a frank explanation, US Secretary of State John Kerry blamed Israel for the breakdown. Israel had, after all left the negotiations when Fatah and Hamas announced their plans for a unity government. Israel said Abbas would have to choose between peace with Israel and peace with Hamas. Israel “will not negotiate with a Palestinian government backed by Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel’s destruction”. The President of the State of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas responded by indicating any unity government would recognize Israel, be non-violent and bind itself to previous PLO agreements. Israel had a hard time believing that statement and consequently left the negotiation table.
While the relationship between Fatah and Hamas was strengthening, the relationship between Israel and the US was deteriorating. Open criticism in the US that Israel was not negotiating in good faith was putting pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
A core Israeli argument that Fatah spoke only for Fatah was beginning to break down. In early June, a new Palestinian Authority government was inaugurated endorsed by Hamas and Fatah. When the US made moves to accept the new government international pressure began to mount towards Israel.
In order to reverse the mounting pressure, Israel had to show that Hamas was not serious about giving up terrorism and so a few days later an opportunity presented itself when three young Israelis in the West Bank went missing. Netanyahu quickly directed the responsibility towards Hamas and despite reasonable evidence the young men were already dead sent a rescue team into the West Bank. Dubbed a hostage rescue operation it was really an attempt to expose the fragility of the new Palestinian Authority. Several Palestinians were killed; mass arrests were made and several houses were demolished.
The predictable result was rocket fire from Hamas – followed by another mowing.