Daily Tribune

COMMENTARY

Peace plan for Gaza exit

If an instant election is staged today, the people may easily replace Hamas with a home-grown, non-terrorist government.

Bernie V. Lopez · Oct 16, 2023, 10:01 PM

There is a tiny crack through which peace can be achieved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is not an easy goal, but possible if the peacemakers prevail over the war seekers. Right now, everyone is in a frenzy on both sides, screaming and angry. Let us all calm down and do some soul-searching toward peace and harmony.

Step One: Exit Hamas?

Peace will never be achieved with Hamas in the picture because it is a terrorist government, which they admit and are proud of, showing videos of their heinous crimes to get global support. They are both praised and condemned for their actions. A Hamas exit will not be easy but it is possible. There are two ways — through elections or a PLO takeover after an Israeli massacre.

Hamas is an exiled government, living in luxury in Doha after it was thrown out of Syria. They get billions of dollars in aid from worldwide supporters. The more they kill, the bigger their funds to make war.

Hamas is a dictatorship, taking power 18 years ago and never conducting elections, a risky option.

Being a terrorist dictatorship in exile, Hamas cares little about the Palestinian people, whom they use only to vent hatred for Israel. They knew beforehand that their recent invasion would draw a violent response from Israel in Gaza. But they do not care because they are in exile, far from the bloody war. The Palestinian people are pawns in their obsession to destroy Israel.

How popular is Hamas among Palestinians? In a 2023 survey in Gaza, 62 percent wanted a ceasefire, 50 percent wanted a stop to the destruction of Israel, 70 percent wanted the PLO of West Bank to take over (source — Firstpost-Vantage News Bureau). If an instant election is staged today, the people may easily replace Hamas with a home-grown, non-terrorist government that will ensure their safety.

Step Two: Enter PLO?

When Israel took over some 80 percent of what was 100 percent Palestine before WW2, the remnants of Palestine were divided into the tiny Gaza Strip controlled by Hamas, and the larger West Bank controlled by the PLO. The PLO is a much saner government than Hamas, and they are resident, not in exile.

A PLO takeover of Gaza is possible, after perhaps Israel decimates Hamas, which it promises to do.

But Israel may commit genocide in the process, which it is starting to do right now with random airstrikes against civilians. Palestinians scream, "We are not Hamas," but is Israel listening? Israel would rather take out the entire Gaza but it cannot commit total genocide and it knows it.

Step Three: A Benign Israel?

There is resistance to a "benign" Israel due to: 1) total hatred for Palestinians spanning thousands of years; 2) a much bigger war with Islamic nations. The Israelis fear Iran and had resorted in the past to numerous pre-emptive strikes, inviting a nuclear war in the name of survival.

Israel would rather expand the war than talk peace, which it thinks is futile. Israel needs the US to fight their multiple enemies. The US does not care for Israel that much, except for the Jews in the US who exert a powerful influence. The US has a bigger agenda of controlling the vast Middle East energy resource. It is obsessed with the invasion of Iran after the Shah, its puppet, went down. Biden sent two US aircraft carriers to the war area, one with 5,000 troops, a possible sledgehammer for a thumbtack situation. Taking out a mutual enemy for different motives is the essence of the US-Israel alliance.

Clearly, Israel must have a change of heart and be more benign and less belligerent. But that may be asking too much. Israel may draw a nuclear war in the name of survival.

Now we may be approaching the end game. Russia will never let the US take over Iran. Russia knows the fall of Iran will be the beginning of the end. It much prefers a nuclear war.

Blowing in the Wind

Our Lady of Fatima prophesied a nuclear holocaust with a big IF — if Man does not change his sinful ways. The Marian peace formula is prayer and repentance. But the world is in a frenzy of hate and vengeance. Man may fry in his own fat in the end.

The flower people in the 1960s had a powerful protest song which went, "Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing. The answer, my friends, is blowing in the wind."