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Economist Fakes Political History Of Gaza
The Economist is faking history:
Bibi Netanyahu is the wrong man in the wrong place – Economist – October 31, 2023
In the absence of clear government direction the Israeli defence establishment is doing all the planning. Its preferred solution is to see the PA ultimately return to Gaza, which it controlled until Hamas’s coup in 2007.
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There was no 'Hamas coup', neither in 2007 nor before or after it. But there was indeed a coup attempt in Gaza. It was led by Muhammad Dahlan of the Fatah, which was also leading the Palestinian Authority, who, with U.S. support, was trying to overthrow the legally elected Hamas government of Gaza.
The Gaza Bombshell – Vanity Fair – March 3, 2008
After failing to anticipate Hamas’s victory over Fatah in the 2006 Palestinian election, the White House cooked up yet another scandalously covert and self-defeating Middle East debacle: part Iran-contra, part Bay of Pigs. With confidential documents, corroborated by outraged former and current U.S. officials, the author reveals how President Bush, Condoleezza Rice, and Deputy National-Security Adviser Elliott Abrams backed an armed force under Fatah strongman Muhammad Dahlan, touching off a bloody civil war in Gaza and leaving Hamas stronger than ever.
Then President Bush called Muhammad Dahlan 'our guy' and did everything he could to further a coup:
Vanity Fair has obtained confidential documents, since corroborated by sources in the U.S. and Palestine, which lay bare a covert initiative, approved by Bush and implemented by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Deputy National Security Adviser Elliott Abrams, to provoke a Palestinian civil war. The plan was for forces led by Dahlan, and armed with new weapons supplied at America’s behest, to give Fatah the muscle it needed to remove the democratically elected Hamas-led government from power.
It is a long complex story. In the end the Bush administration gave up and simply tried to ignore Hamas and Gaza. That did not work either.
As the Vanity Fair piece concluded at that time:
It is impossible to say for sure whether the outcome in Gaza would have been any better—for the Palestinian people, for the Israelis, and for America’s allies in Fatah—if the Bush administration had pursued a different policy. One thing, however, seems certain: it could not be any worse.
Seeing how helpless the Palestinians are in the West Bank, where the settlers and army are torturing and terrorizing them, it is difficult to agree with that conclusion.
Unfortunately, b, doesn’t clearly spell out the whole truth about Hamas winning the 2006 Palestinian elections and what that really meant at the time — eg
It was led by Muhammad Dahlan of the Fatah, which was also leading the Palestinian Authority, who, with U.S. support, was trying to overthrow the legally elected Hamas government of Gaza.
It wasn’t a Government of Gaza – it was the still legitimate Palestinian Government – and it still is today imo. The following info sources may help those not very aware of the history.
BUT b is certainly right when he says: It is a long complex story.
WIKI – After months of intermittent talks, on 8 February 2007, Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement to form a national unity government aimed at ending both the spasm of violence and the international aid embargo that followed the formation of the initial Hamas-led government (Feb 2006).
After the takeover in Gaza by Hamas on 14 June 2007 in the Battle of Gaza (2007), Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led coalition government and on 15 June 2007 appointed Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister to form a new government. Hamas objected to this move as being illegal.
Though the new government’s authority is claimed to extend to all Palestinian territories, in effect it is limited to the Palestinian Authority controlled areas of the West Bank and excludes Gaza. Thus Hamas’ right to lead a Palestinian Authority government had come to an end.
PLUS the facts are:
Legislative elections were held in the Palestinian territories on 25 January 2006 in order to elect the second Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The result was a victory for Hamas, contesting under the list name of Change and Reform, which received 44.45% of the vote and won 74 of the 132 seats, whilst the ruling Fatah received 41.43% of the vote and won 45 seats.
NEW Prime Minister was Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas –
The newly elected PLC met for the first time on 18 February 2006. Incumbent Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei tendered his resignation on 26 January 2006, but remained interim Prime Minister at the request of President Mahmoud Abbas. On 20 February, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was nominated to form a new government. The new government [OF ALL PALESTINE] with Haniyeh as Prime Minister was sworn in on 29 March. These were the last contested elections to be held before Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 [after a Coup attempt mentioned by b above];
no new elections have been held since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election
Change and Reform Party aka HAMAS won the election to Govern ALL of Palestinian occupied Territories. Fatah Lost Big Time! But they too SOLD OUT HAMAS and ALL the Palestinian People over time (imo).
Israel and the US intervened ILLEGALLY and Financially to block HAMAS from “fully” taking Power of the Palestinian Authority and the second Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) .. then came the Shalit intervention as the excuse to completely topple Hamas from power with PA / Abbas help.
Another Crime Against Humanity by Israel and the US, and the UN and every nation on Earth who failed to enforce the results of this proven free and fair democratic Election (imo).
From wiki
An exit poll conducted by Near East Consulting on 15 February 2006 on voters participating in the 2006 PA elections revealed the following responses to major concerns:
Support for a Peace Agreement with Israel: 79.5% in support; 15.5% in opposition
Should Hamas change its policies regarding Israel: Yes – 75.2%; No – 24.8%
Under Hamas corruption will decrease: Yes – 78.1%; No – 21.9%
Under Hamas internal security will improve: Yes – 67.8%; No – 32.2%
Hamas government priorities:
1) Combatting corruption; 2) Ending security chaos; 3) Solving poverty/unemployment
Support for Hamas’ impact on the national interest: Positive – 66.7&; Negative – 28.5%
Support for a national unity government?: Yes – 81.4%; no – 18.6%
Rejection of Fatah’s decision not to join a national unity government:
Yes – 72.5%; No – 27.5%
Satisfaction with election results: 64.2% satisfied; 35.8% dissatisfied
I suggest reading the above again … and slowly – let it sink in – that was January 2006.
Hamas had just won the election in an unexpected LANDSLIDE …. and then later JUNE 2006
Detention of Ministers and MPs — 2006 Gaza cross-border raid by ISRAEL
After the kidnap of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on 25 June 2006, Israel launched a series of raids into Gaza and the West Bank. Israel destroyed civilian infrastructure and arrested dozens of Hamas supporters, including elected cabinet ministers and members of the PLC. On 28 June overnight, the army invaded Gaza and performed airstrikes, bombing infrastructure such as bridges and an electricity station.
On 29 June, the IDF detained from the West Bank 8 ministers and 26 PLC members in addition to many other political leaders. By August 2006, Israel had arrested 49 senior Hamas officials, all from the West Bank, including 33 parliamentarians, “because technically they were members of a terrorist organisation although they may not be involved in terrorist acts themselves”.
Most of the Hamas detainees were moderate members from the West Bank who had been calling on the Gaza leadership to recognise Israel and make the party more acceptable to the international community. Hamas has accused Israel of trying to destroy the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
With the formation of the government, the Quartet set three conditions for the Hamas-led government: recognition of the agreements signed between Israel and the PLO, recognition of Israel and renunciation of support for terrorism. Hamas refused these conditions.
THE Quartet had no LEGAL RIGHT to set such conditions (imo).
Other REFS
https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-year-of-the-victory-of-hamas/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/1/26/hamas-wins-huge-majority
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23525766 (paywall sorry)
(very good)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212704/Election_report_Palestine_25_January_2006.pdf
https://www.cartercenter.org/news/documents/doc2287.html
At the end of the day none of this really matters now – besides it is not that hard to recognise that bombing civilians is a war crime and is evil. War criminals deserve to be tried in court and then shot, nor allowed to run national governments or lead a nations armed forces.
The rest is Academic. Israel has no right to exist as an independent nation (imo), but until the world’s majority community of nations – even without the US, EU and UK – step up in unison and ACT to intervene militarily and economically and politically against Israel nothing will ever change (imo).
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Nov 2 2023 6:56 utc | 731
Unfortunately, b, doesn’t clearly spell out the whole truth about Hamas winning the 2006 Palestinian elections and what that really meant at the time — eg
It was led by Muhammad Dahlan of the Fatah, which was also leading the Palestinian Authority, who, with U.S. support, was trying to overthrow the legally elected Hamas government of Gaza.
It wasn’t a Government of Gaza – it was the still legitimate Palestinian Government – and it still is today imo. The following info sources may help those not very aware of the history.
BUT b is certainly right when he says: It is a long complex story.
WIKI – After months of intermittent talks, on 8 February 2007, Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement to form a national unity government aimed at ending both the spasm of violence and the international aid embargo that followed the formation of the initial Hamas-led government (Feb 2006).
After the takeover in Gaza by Hamas on 14 June 2007 in the Battle of Gaza (2007), Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led coalition government and on 15 June 2007 appointed Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister to form a new government. Hamas objected to this move as being illegal.
Though the new government’s authority is claimed to extend to all Palestinian territories, in effect it is limited to the Palestinian Authority controlled areas of the West Bank and excludes Gaza. Thus Hamas’ right to lead a Palestinian Authority government had come to an end.
PLUS the facts are:
Legislative elections were held in the Palestinian territories on 25 January 2006 in order to elect the second Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), the legislature of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). The result was a victory for Hamas, contesting under the list name of Change and Reform, which received 44.45% of the vote and won 74 of the 132 seats, whilst the ruling Fatah received 41.43% of the vote and won 45 seats.
NEW Prime Minister was Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas –
The newly elected PLC met for the first time on 18 February 2006. Incumbent Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei tendered his resignation on 26 January 2006, but remained interim Prime Minister at the request of President Mahmoud Abbas. On 20 February, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was nominated to form a new government. The new government [OF ALL PALESTINE] with Haniyeh as Prime Minister was sworn in on 29 March. These were the last contested elections to be held before Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007 [after a Coup attempt mentioned by b above];
no new elections have been held since.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Palestinian_legislative_election
Change and Reform Party aka HAMAS won the election to Govern ALL of Palestinian occupied Territories. Fatah Lost Big Time! But they too SOLD OUT HAMAS and ALL the Palestinian People over time (imo).
Israel and the US intervened ILLEGALLY and Financially to block HAMAS from “fully” taking Power of the Palestinian Authority and the second Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) .. then came the Shalit intervention as the excuse to completely topple Hamas from power with PA / Abbas help.
Another Crime Against Humanity by Israel and the US, and the UN and every nation on Earth who failed to enforce the results of this proven free and fair democratic Election (imo).
From wiki
An exit poll conducted by Near East Consulting on 15 February 2006 on voters participating in the 2006 PA elections revealed the following responses to major concerns:
Support for a Peace Agreement with Israel: 79.5% in support; 15.5% in opposition
Should Hamas change its policies regarding Israel: Yes – 75.2%; No – 24.8%
Under Hamas corruption will decrease: Yes – 78.1%; No – 21.9%
Under Hamas internal security will improve: Yes – 67.8%; No – 32.2%
Hamas government priorities:
1) Combatting corruption; 2) Ending security chaos; 3) Solving poverty/unemployment
Support for Hamas’ impact on the national interest: Positive – 66.7&; Negative – 28.5%
Support for a national unity government?: Yes – 81.4%; no – 18.6%
Rejection of Fatah’s decision not to join a national unity government:
Yes – 72.5%; No – 27.5%
Satisfaction with election results: 64.2% satisfied; 35.8% dissatisfied
I suggest reading the above again … and slowly – let it sink in – that was January 2006.
Hamas had just won the election in an unexpected LANDSLIDE …. and then later JUNE 2006
Detention of Ministers and MPs — 2006 Gaza cross-border raid by ISRAEL
After the kidnap of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on 25 June 2006, Israel launched a series of raids into Gaza and the West Bank. Israel destroyed civilian infrastructure and arrested dozens of Hamas supporters, including elected cabinet ministers and members of the PLC. On 28 June overnight, the army invaded Gaza and performed airstrikes, bombing infrastructure such as bridges and an electricity station.
On 29 June, the IDF detained from the West Bank 8 ministers and 26 PLC members in addition to many other political leaders. By August 2006, Israel had arrested 49 senior Hamas officials, all from the West Bank, including 33 parliamentarians, “because technically they were members of a terrorist organisation although they may not be involved in terrorist acts themselves”.
Most of the Hamas detainees were moderate members from the West Bank who had been calling on the Gaza leadership to recognise Israel and make the party more acceptable to the international community. Hamas has accused Israel of trying to destroy the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.
With the formation of the government, the Quartet set three conditions for the Hamas-led government: recognition of the agreements signed between Israel and the PLO, recognition of Israel and renunciation of support for terrorism. Hamas refused these conditions.
THE Quartet had no LEGAL RIGHT to set such conditions (imo).
Other REFS
https://www.iemed.org/publication/the-year-of-the-victory-of-hamas/
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2006/1/26/hamas-wins-huge-majority
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23525766 (paywall sorry)
(very good)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/cmsdata/212704/Election_report_Palestine_25_January_2006.pdf
https://www.cartercenter.org/news/documents/doc2287.html
At the end of the day none of this really matters now – besides it is not that hard to recognise that bombing civilians is a war crime and is evil. War criminals deserve to be tried in court and then shot, nor allowed to run national governments or lead a nations armed forces.
The rest is Academic. Israel has no right to exist as an independent nation (imo), but until the world’s majority community of nations – even without the US, EU and UK – step up in unison and ACT to intervene militarily and economically and politically against Israel nothing will ever change (imo).
Posted by: Lavrov’s Dog | Nov 2 2023 6:56 utc | 732
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