The Symbiotic relationship between Hamas and Netanyahu
There is a great article by @EvanDyerCBC, that I will be quoting and that highlights the symbiotic relationship between Hamas and Netanyahu leadership. From the outset, Hamas spawned with the help from Israel, to counterweight Arafats Fatah.
Since then, Hamas has been used as a means to oppose 2SS and also used for the claim that “there is not partner for peace”. For example, former head of Shin Bet security service, Yuval Diskin in 2013:
“if we look at it over the years, one of the main people contributing to Hamas’s strengthening has been Bibi Netanyahu, since his first term as prime minister.”
Ehud Barak in august 2019:
“Netanyahu’s “strategy is to keep Hamas alive and kicking … even at the price of abandoning the citizens [of the south] … in order to weaken the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah.”
The logic underlying this strategy, Barak said, is that “it’s easier with Hamas to explain to Israelis that there is no one to sit with and no one to talk to.”
Since returning to office in 2009, Netanyahu pursued a divisive political strategy, favoring Hamas over the Palestinian Authority to maintain a rift between Gaza and the West Bank. The goal was to sustain diplomatic deadlock, preventing negotiations for a two-state solution by arguing that the Palestinian Authority doesn’t represent all Palestinians. This flawed strategy transformed Hamas from a minor terrorist organization into a ruthless, highly trained army with dehumanized mercenaries. They mercilessly slaughtered innocent Israeli civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
In mid October, Saudi Prince Turki bin Faisal criticized both Hamas and Israel. He condemned Hamas for undermining the Palestinian Authority and obstructing Saudi Arabia’s efforts for a peaceful resolution. Additionally, he denounced Israel for channeling Qatari money to Hamas, referring to the substantial financial support from the Qatar royal family, amounting to about a billion U.S. dollars sent to Gaza over the years.
This has been well established. Between 2012 and 2018, Netanyahu approved the transfer of approximately one billion dollars from Qatar to Gaza, with at least half going to Hamas, including its military wing. According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu justified this move in a private meeting on March 11, 2019, stating that the money transfer was part of a strategy to divide Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. He argued that those opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state should support the Qatari funds to Hamas, aiming to thwart the creation of a Palestinian state, as detailed in Haim Ramon’s Hebrew-language book “Neged Haruach” (p. 417).
In may 2019, Netanyahu associate Gershon Hacohen, a major general in reserves said:
“We need to tell the truth. Netanyahu’s strategy is to prevent the option of two states, so he is turning Hamas into his closest partner. Openly Hamas is an enemy. Covertly, it’s an ally.”
In a tweet on May 20, 2019, Channel 13 quoted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak saying:
“Netanyahu isn’t interested in the two-state solution. Rather, he wants to separate Gaza from the West Bank, as he told me at the end of 2010.”
Furthemore, in 2020, Israel’s defense minister, Avigdor Liberman, revealed that Prime Minister Netanyahu had sent Mossad chief Yossi Cohen and IDF’s Gaza officer, Herzi Halevi, to Doha to beg Qatar to continue funding Hamas.
Libermann said about this:
“Both Egypt and Qatar are angry with Hamas and planned to cut ties with them. Suddenly Netanyahu appears as the defender of Hamas”
A year later, Netanyahu faced further embarrassment as photos of cash-filled suitcases destined for Hamas surfaced. This led to the resignation of Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, who protested Netanyahu’s Hamas funding policy, stating it marked “the first time Israel is funding terrorism against itself.” Subsequently, Education Minister Naftali Bennett, also critical of the payments, resigned.
Netanyahu has insisted that funds and materials given to Hamas wouldn’t be used for military purposes. However, the IDF now demonstrates how Hamas has indeed diverted civilian resources for military use. Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot revealed that Netanyahu’s actions were in direct opposition to the national assessment of the National Security Council, which advocated disconnecting from the Palestinians and establishing two states.
Dilemma for Dual-State Proposal
Mustafa Barghouti, a PLO Central Council member, played a pivotal role in Hamas-Fatah talks aiming for Palestinian unity in negotiations for a two-state peace. Barghouti, speaking from Ramallah, explained that Netanyahu consistently derailed unity attempts by accusing Abbas of collaborating with terrorists whenever progress was made. However, when asked why he wouldn’t negotiate with Abbas, Netanyahu cited the Palestinian Authority’s alleged inability to represent all Palestinians, using this division to justify his opposition to any peace agreement through negotiation.
In conclusion, the evidence shows a pattern of Netanyahu using Hamas as a tool to undermine the possibility of a two-state solution. By fostering a symbiotic relationship with Hamas, he has perpetuated division between Gaza and the West Bank, creating diplomatic paralysis and obstructing peace negotiations. This strategy, as noted by various sources, has come at the cost of innocent lives and has been widely criticized for prioritizing political objectives over the well-being of the people involved.
The consistent use of Hamas as both an enemy and an ally in pursuit of political goals shows Netanyahus hypocritical stance and that he is equally responsible for the situations that led up to 7/10 and until now.
With Bibi and his shadow around, there will never be peace between Palestinians and Israelis.
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