By Rabbi Dow Marmur
JERUSALEM — The recent resumption of rocket attacks from Gaza deep into the Negev was bound to get a forceful Israeli response, including targeted killings. The first of these has just cost the lives of three Hamas terrorists. Hamas acknowledges that they were members but denies that they were planning an attack over Pesach on Israeli civilians in the Sinai, where many are likely to travel over the holiday season. Between Hamas and Israel, I always believe Israel. Hamas has now threatened further escalation.
The Israeli kidnapping in Ukraine of the deputy director of the only power plant in Gaza may be another factor. A German magazine reported that the man may be a hostage in the struggle to get back Gilad Shalit, which, of course, Hamas denies.
A third element may be the reported change of heart by Richard Goldstone. In an article in the Washington Post he exonerates Israel from targeting civilians, as stated in his infamous UN report on the Gaza war. He now blames only Hamas. (Netanyahu is urging the UN to rescind the report that has caused so much damage to Israel.)
That’s the background against the latest TV interview with Ephraim Halevy, a former head of the Mossad and of Israel’s National Security Council. He has been close to power for decades and, therefore, what he has to say is both relevant and important.
Known as a pragmatist with no obvious political affiliation, he has for some time been saying that Israel must talk to Hamas. He holds no brief for the terrorist organization nor does he suggest that Israel shouldn’t respond with maximum force, but he believes that it’s in Israel’s vital interest to deal face-to-face, not bomb-to-bomb with Hamas.
That’s particularly urgent now as the Palestinians prepare to unilaterally declare a state based on the pre-1967 borders. By talking to Hamas and pointing to a possibility of an interim agreement that in due course would lead to a final peace treaty with perhaps a united West Bank and Gaza, it may be possible to turn the agenda in Israel’s favour, not because Hamas wants to be kind to Israel but because it wants to survive the onslaught from Israel, avoid international condemnation and prevent civil war with Fatah after the proclamation of the state. Peace on its borders is, of course, essential for Israel’s future. All this suggests that it’s imperative the two sides talk to each other.
Halevy doesn’t deny that a priori the Hamas rhetoric will be staunchly opposed to anything but the dismantling of Israel, an attitude that gives Israel’s right-wing a seemingly unassailable argument against negotiating. But there’s such a thing as ex post facto, says Halevy. Under certain conditions and after serious negotiations, Hamas may change its tune in its own interest which will also greatly benefit Israel.
He reminded the viewers that for many years the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin insisted that he’d only meet Arafat on the battlefield. Yet he ended up shaking hands with him on the White House lawn.
Halevy also came out against those, again mainly on the political right, who believe that the present status quo is good for Israel. His argument is that the status quo is never static and that it’s currently working against Israel’s interests.
Talking to Hamas may be heresy in many circles and no doubt Israelis will have to hold their noses when doing it. But, says Halevy, even President Obama has to be persuaded that this is the best, perhaps the only, way forward to make peace.
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Rabbi Marmur is spiritual leader emeritus of Holy Blossom Temple in Toronto. He now divides his year between Canada and Israel. He may be contacted at dow.marmur@sdjewishworld.com