Eyal Zisser
צילום: ניב קלדרון
Destroy Hamas' military power
Israel cannot reconcile itself to establishment of Hamas state in Gaza
The Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip is tantamount to an earthquake that is set to send shockwaves through the entire Middle East.
The nightmare of many Israelis regarding the Gaza Strip is being realized before their very eyes; the foundations for the establishment of a Hamas state have been laid.
If the Hamas movement succeeds in setting up its rule in the Strip and establishes long-term autonomy there, the chances of achieving an agreement between Israel and the Palestinians will come to a total standstill, at least in the foreseeable future.
Moreover, the countdown towards an inevitable conflict between Israel and Hamas will begin and will inevitably take Israel back to Gaza.
Israel cannot reconcile itself to the establishment of a Hamas state in Gaza. Sooner or later it will have to diffuse the time bomb that has been placed on its doorstep.
Real disengagement from the Gaza Strip is not an option for Israel, as it is doubtful whether Gaza under Hamas leadership will permit such a thing.
Economic pressure is also ineffective, as the implications of a humanitarian crisis will immediately be placed on Israel's doorstep. Israel will find itself forced to take action - better sooner than later - in bringing down Hamas in the Strip. To this end, the right conditions should be created in Israel and particularly in the regional and international arenas.
Yet it is important to sound the warning that destroying Hamas' military power can only constitute an initial and partial measure. Following this step an international or regional party should be found (Egypt?) that would be willing to take temporary responsibility over the Strip until a comprehensive solution, which is becoming increasingly more urgent, is found for the Israel-Arab conflict.
In the absence of the above – we would have to maintain an effective rule in Gaza, or alternately come to terms with the establishment of a Hamas state that draws its inspiration from Hizbullah in Lebanon.
Dr Eyal Zisser is senior research fellow at the Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies at Tel Aviv University
