FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
ASHKELON – “We are in a dangerous moment. Israel is responding to what it says is an indiscriminate attack by Hamas on its own civilian population with an even more indiscriminate response against Gaza. This poses the risk of war with Egypt and, in Lebanon, with Hezbollah. But the worst thing is that we don’t see a political solution, there is no prospect of peace,” claims 70-year-old Ghassan Khatib, a former minister in Yasser Arafat’s government and now head of the West Bank media center in his office in Ramallah.
The worst is yet to come?
“Certainly also because I reject the triumphant narrative that the new wave of war was triggered by a terrorist attack.” We find ourselves in the ongoing spiral of violence and counter-violence in the context of the Israeli occupation that has taken place in recent years under the leadership of Netanyahu-led government, a mix of religious fanatics and xenophobic nationalists, has become increasingly brutal and dangerous. committed to oppressing and mistreating the Palestinian population.”
But Hamas has committed heinous crimes. How can we destroy it and talk to each other again?
“It is not possible to calm tensions through the systematic use of force. It must be remembered that the root of the problem remains the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories: only mediation and politics can find a compromise solution, otherwise the violence will continue to escalate.”
What do you think of the plan to eliminate Hamas and hand the administration of Gaza to the government of Abu Mazen?
“A stupid illusion. No Palestinian leader will take over Gaza aboard an Israeli tank.”
Biden reiterates that we must reinvigorate the idea of peace between two states…
“The peace-for-land solution became unworkable because Israel continued to build and expand settlements in the center of the same regions that were supposed to be the heart of the Palestinian state.” However, if the US pushed to dismantle them, the solution would be up again the table.”
And do you think Biden is ready for that?
“No, I do not think so. Our view is that the White House supported Israel’s military response.”
The Israelis announce that they will destroy Hamas.
“The only way they can do this is to return and physically occupy all of Gaza, as was the case before 2005. But if they invade Gaza, kill and destroy before withdrawing, then Hamas will quickly be reborn from its ashes.”
Hamas as ISIS?
“It’s not true. They are two completely different movements.
Hamas wants to destroy Israel?
“WRONG. It is known that their leaders have stated in the past that they are ready for a hudna, a ceasefire, to be negotiated.
But didn’t the Hamas suicide bombers boycott peace in the 1990s when it was still possible?
«I wouldn’t confuse the consequences with the causes. It was the growth of Jewish colonies, just as the application of the Oslo Accords was being negotiated, that inspired jihadist terrorism. My polls in 1993 showed that 80 percent of Palestinians supported peace.”
Do you condemn Hamas’ barbaric killing of civilians?
“I condemn without reservation, civilians should not be killed.”