Advice … Israel must realize that abundance overcomes courage

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LET us start from the end. Would the Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, led by the “Al-Qassam Brigades” take place without the advice of the Hamas leadership residing in Doha and Istanbul hotels? Could its result be the recognition of a Palestinian state next to an Israeli state?

There is no doubt that the operation will remain forever in the Palestinian and Israeli memories. Perhaps for a second, its impact will be greater because it represents an Israeli setback exactly 50 years after the start of the October War in 1973.

It therefore indicates that this state will not rest and stabilize unless there is a neighboring Palestinian state, protected by the world as it protected Israel for 75 years.

The operation came at a politically difficult time for the Tel Aviv government, which was suffering from division, popular unrest as a result of judicial amendments, and unrest that could have toppled the Netanyahu government. It came at a time when the resurgence of Jewish extremist groups intensified, and they brazenly provoked Muslims by storming Al-Aqsa Mosque several times.

Also, if Israeli military power gave an advantage for 50 years and was modernized after the October War, its rapid collapse within three hours brought to Israeli minds the shock of the collapse of the Bar Lev line, let alone the fact that the opponent this time is not a regular army, but an armed faction of a few thousand fighters armed with primitive weapons.

It is true that the timing of the operation is remarkable. We mentioned in the past that Hamas wasn’t known for this apart from being in the hotels. This makes us wonder if this may be an indication of the end of the “resistance” of luxury and profiteering, because its leadership was never an actual liberation leadership.

The tactic of the attack astonished the Hamas leadership just like it astonished all observers in the world, which means this could be the end of the era of the leadership which traded with pain of the Palestinians, especially the people of Gaza.

There is no doubt that the cruelty of the events and the barbaric Israeli reaction will engrave lessons in the memory, and will prompt a change in Israeli and Western approaches towards the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.

Hence, just as the world was ready to pressure Tel Aviv in 1973 to accept peace, the same will be exerted on both parties today to accept a peace deal.

It is true that the world today stands with Tel Aviv, but it will not guarantee its stability, which must be in the calculations of its leaders, and they remember the Arab proverb, “Abundance overcomes courage.”

Therefore, it cannot continue in an Arab environment in which it represents less than five percent of the population.

It is true that for 75 years, the Arabs missed one opportunity after another. They did not accept the partition decision, and Israel expanded further at that time. However, after the setback of 1967, the then Egypt president the late Jamal Abdul Nasser rejected the Rogers’ initiative, which stipulated holding negotiations to implement resolution No. 242. Abdul Nasser relaunched his slogan of “throwing the Jews into the sea,” and thus the war of attrition continued, in which Egypt paid a huge price.

In 1970, Egypt had a leader who calculated gains and losses well; it was the late President Anwar Sadat. He realized that the continuation of the situation in this manner would lead to a doubling of the losses.

In agreement with Syria, he declared war on October 6, 1973, and surprised the world by crossing over, overthrowing the tyranny of the Israeli power, and covering the foreheads of its leaders with the sand of Sinai.

Four days after the start of the battle, the US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger went to Cairo, met with Sadat, and told him one phrase – “The United States will not accept the defeat of its weapons.”

The late Sadat then replied, “It means that I am not fighting Israel, I am fighting America.” Kissinger replied, “Yes, you are fighting the United States of America.”

At that time, tanks were sent to Israel and entered the battle immediately, and the Western world declared its support for Israel, just like how it is happening today.

The late Sadat realized that continuing the war meant losing the gains that had been achieved, so he put on a military uniform, announced a unilateral cessation of the war, and began the “101 Kilometer Tent” negotiations, which ended in a peace agreement at the US “Camp David.”

At that time, the world supported this step. The Egyptian army was in the best position, and today it secures Egypt’s stability and maintains its national security. Cairo has become the millstone of international diplomacy.

We do not forget that initially this ended with a boycott of Egypt, and the holding of the Baghdad Conference. Despite the Arab sloganeering and brainwashing campaign, everyone returned to Egypt.

Today, the situation may be similar to that stage. There is no doubt that the Arabs will realize that time will not wait. The Palestinians are living this daily flame and massacres, and the world is beginning to wake up to the sound of the blatant war.

Therefore, there is no solution except the establishment of Israeli and Palestinian states living in peace side by side. Perhaps the Israeli leadership will be convinced that a new “Camp David” option is the best for the stability of its state.

Finally, there is no doubt that the Arab and Islamic worlds appreciate the Palestinian sacrifices, but we must be aware that the war with slogans is what brought all these woes on the Palestinians.

Therefore, the Israelis and Palestinians must take a lesson from the October War.

By Ahmed Al-Jarallah

Editor-in-Chief, the Arab Times

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