At the beginning of Operation Protective Edge, I made a prediction that, on paper, now looks wrong. I predicted that Hamas was in free-fall and preparing to meet its end. But while in the newspapers it looks as if this isn’t true, with Hamas head Khaled Meshal making statements from Qatar on behalf of the organization and his deputy Ismail Haniyeh holding a rally for thousands of supporters in Gaza–I do believe that from this point forward, Hamas will no longer have a part in Gaza’s future. Hold up a microscope to the actions of these two leaders and the verdict is clear.

Meshal remains in Qatar, after his desperate attempts to sabotage a ceasefire failed to force Israel’s hand to make concessions. Haniyeh was immediately hospitalized following his rally, however the reason has not yet been made public. Eyewitness accounts claim that Haniyeh spent almost the entire conflict in the bunkers beneath Gaza’s Shifa Hospital, while his supporters in the streets were forced to abandon their homes in the center of battlefields and flee in search of refuge. His lack of presence during the Gaza conflict, as well as that of his fellow Hamas leaders, was duly noticed. Hamas’ clout among the Palestinian people has diminished, the legitimacy it was given by the U.N. has dissolved, and the Palestinian and international community have started to look elsewhere with questions about the future.

With the rockets subdued, the arena of diplomacy leaves us at a paramount crossroads in history in which a decision must be made. The Palestinian Authority, who controls the West Bank, has decided it will bring Israel to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands in order to force Israel to withdraw to pre-1967 borders. Following the recent conflict in Gaza, the P.A. is also hoping the international community will give it the green-light to take control of Gaza’s borders, aid, and general administration. This is the same political organization that is known in the West Bank for its corruption and for its desperate power-hungry leaders. This is the same organization that Israeli Arab journalist Khaled Abu Toameh (see: an Intifada against Abbas) reported was using brutal force to put down protests against its authority in the West Bank. This is the same organization that itself is guilty of terrorism when it planned and inspired the Second Intifada, a series of regular terrorist attacks that took place within Israel from 2000-2005. And an organization that has not held legitimate elections since 2006.

Israeli territory before 1967 is marked in white. (theatlanticwire.com)

So my question is, why choose politics over cooperation? Why continue to play the blame-game? Why are these leaders so glued to their press microphones and interview seats, rather than their bricks and mortar?

Our other option, and the only option that will lead to a positive result for all sides that are involved, is an earnest attempt made by the international community to build and develop Gaza. French President Francois Hollande, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and American lawmakers have already made this known. The people of Gaza have been used as chess pieces by their own leaders for the past two decades. Those who are interested in seeing the end of Gazans’ tragic struggles, should instead encourage their nations to take responsibility. Send an international peacekeeping force to provide security within Gaza, have the United Nations (instead of Hamas) supervise the use of aid to build schools and other civilian edifices, and volunteer to provide the machinery that will destroy Hamas’ remaining terror tunnels and build a seaport for Gazan businesses.

The winner of this war has not yet been declared, as much as various biased media sources may try to pinpoint one. But, there is a rare opportunity that everyone can come out a winner. Build Gaza, do not allow its people to fall into the Palestinian Authority’s historic idling. This will lead to a better living situation for Gazans and as terrorism is invalidated as a strategy to improve one’s life in Gaza, Israelis will start to feel more safe at home.

http://www.thewire.com/global/2011/05/what-obama-meant-1967-lines-why-irked-netanyahu/37977/