Well, this is hardly surprising. If anybody compares Palestinian attitudes towards Hamas before the war (when Hamas had very low approval ratings) to those after the war, you can see the limitations and flawed nature of Israels strategy. If you make the Palestinians pay a terrible price for Hamas tactics, Palestinians will not reject Hamas in favor of a more moderate position -- especially when Israel actively undermines that moderate position by its policies on the WB -- as many in Israel had hoped. Instead, Israels excessive action in Gaza strengthened Hamas, resurrecting an organization that was on the verge of bankruptcy, regional alienation and political irrelevance. In short, this summers operation can be added to a long list of Israels political and diplomatic blunders. washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/new-palestinian-poll-shows-hardline-views-but-some-pragmatism-too
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 14:40:29 +0000