The nation of Israel is squaring off against Hamas and other designated terrorist organizations today and the responses around the globe show how far we are from defeating the ideologies behind modern terrorism. Hamas is a holocaust-denying terrorist group receiving varying support from Iran, Turkey, and Qatar—while Hamas holds the destruction of Israel as its main goal.
Responses to Israeli-Palestinian Violence
This month, in response to Israeli-Palestinian violence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount location in Jerusalem, Hamas began to launch hundreds of rockets into Israeli neighborhoods (rockets gained through Iranian assistance), and groups of people around the globe came out to cheer on the violence. These groups came out to supposedly give support for the creation of a Palestinian state, a state that never occurred as the League of Nation’s mandate and UN Partition plans to create it both failed.
The words being used in the streets and on social media prove that violent Islamist groups like Hamas are still spreading their ideology of hate and vengeance. The current military-heavy efforts to reduce the power of terrorist organizations pushing Muslim supremacist ideology is having little effect.
Videos surfaced showing cars in London waving the Palestinian territory flag as the occupants chanted “F**k the Jews, F**k their daughters, F**k their mothers, Rape their daughters. Free Palestine.”
Turkey and Pakistan Respond
In Pakistan, anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian protesters use photos of Hitler and other Nazis to demonize Israeli leaders. Others deny the existence of Israel and say that Allah is on the side of the Muslims that stand against Israel. Some are even attacking Nobel Laureate Malala for not calling Israeli actions an “ethnic cleansing.”
In Turkey, their president says he “Will continue to stand against oppression in Palestine.” He also claims that if Muslims don’t take action on Jerusalem, that “other sacred Muslim cities will be next.” Erdogan says he will offer help to all oppressed people at any cost.” He did not make any similar statements to stop the oppression of the Afghan people by Taliban terrorists this week—and Turkey is part of the NATO mission there.
Funding Terrorists
Groups like Al Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and Hamas continue to gain funding and support despite the terrorist acts they commit. People are still drawn to the violent and flawed approaches to creating a Palestinian state. It is obvious to the layperson that the violent and terrorist approaches to state-building have failed the Palestinian people. For its failure to negotiate with the UN and recognize Israel’s statehood in 1947/48 the Palestinian people have steadily lost territory for their future state for over 7 decades.
Just as the Taliban have failed for over 26 years to build a UN-recognized state through violence in Afghanistan, Hamas will fail to convince the UN and the world to give Palestinians statehood via suicide bombings. One of the most intriguing things I have seen as a scholar of the Middle East since the 1990s is the decrease in interest in the creation of a Palestinian state by Muslim-majority nations. Sure, now and again it is useful for a nation to distract its people from their own failures by railing against Israel and pointing at the plight of Palestinians. But that is not a real attempt at a solution.
What it Looks Like to Stand for the Future of Palestine
Pakistan just this week joined with Turkey to pretend they care about the future of a Palestinian state. This is useful for both Turkish and Pakistani leaders who face challenges in their economy and popularity among their people.
A nation, or person that truly wants to secure statehood for the Palestinian people, and I do think that is a good goal, must focus on realistic solutions. Praising terrorist groups like Hamas, chanting death to Jews, and funding failed Palestinian politicians will never change the minds of Israel or the UN leading nations.
Creating a solid governance structure, rejecting terrorists and terrorist supporters, convincing Palestinians to recognize the statehood of Israel, and convincing Palestinians and Israelis to sincerely negotiate to achieve a workable solution is the real way forward. More violence will not bring peace to this tiny spot on the Mediterranean Sea that so many in the world are losing interest in. If you want to “Free Palestine” start by freeing it of terrorist groups so that responsible Palestinians can find a peaceful solution with responsible Israelis. Responsible actors on both sides of this divide exist, but violence takes their voices out of the discussion.
