Is Hamas creating a Palestinian Armed Forces?
By Genevieve Cora Fraser
What I find most interesting is that Hamas is working to get a handle on the various resistance groups - getting guns
off the streets that are used against fellow Palestinians - and insisting that Palestinians avoid displays of arms for
the TV camera. BUT in addition, they are coordinating the resistance groups that at times rival one another into one
defensive force - armed for resistance against Israel's illegal and brutal occupation.
Basically Hamas is organizing the first Palestinian Armed Forces. And yes - they need tough guys to do this such as
Jamal Abu Samhadana, whose credentials do not list time spent in acts of peaceful resistance. Of course, Israel claims
they will assassinate him - and claim their right to go after all the Hamas officials, but what else is new. Israel
commits crimes against humanity with impunity - all day - every day.
What must scare Israel is that Palestinians have proven to be fearless and now especially so with the sanctions and the
US declaration that ALL the Palestinian Authority are terrorists - from doctors, teachers, nurses, accountants and
street sweepers - all 160,000 of them.
All that Palestine has left IS to resist - with all its might. The West's total condemnation of Hamas and most of the
Palestinian working force may serve to unite Palestine in a way that would be impossible otherwise!
Ironically, Abbas assisted in the organization of the various militant groups by declaring the recent suicide bombing in
Tel Aviv a despicable act. That rankled even Fatah, his own armed militant group. Hamas on the other hand upheld
publicly Palestinian's right to resist despite recent statements that Hamas now chooses NOT to use suicide bombing. As
these various groups point out - what is suicide bombing other than the delivery of the weapon on foot rather than by
plane, war ships, tank, helicopter or rocket launcher. They also point to the hypocrisy of Israel's imprisonment and
vicious attacks on children, women and the elderly as well as on unarmed men not involved in the struggle against the
occupation. I have yet to hear of America or Israel apologizing for the tens of thousands they have killed which also
include innocent victims. (Though between us, I think it would be appropriate for Hamas to acknowledge the tragedy of
such acts before they go on to state the rest of their case. I expect more of Hamas than our Imperialistic governments.)
It is also quite hypocritical to be enraged at the selection of Samhadana to head a new security force considering the
crimes against humanity on a much grander scale that Israel's own defense officials commit as a matter of routine.
Wasn't Sharon indicted for War Crimes? And there are scores of other examples. Talk about the pot calling the kettle
black!
But to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the world as a viable state, Palestine does need an armed forces, despite the
West's guaranteed condemnation of such a move. Of course, they can't call it that for now - naming it a "special
securities force" will do. Or perhaps they could borrow a name from the beginning of the American Revolution, like the
Minutemen. Granted their numbers are small and their armaments few - truly this is a David and Goliath situation - but
someone needs to protect the Palestinians, because the sad truth is the world's governments have washed their hands of
them and delivered them up to Israel for crucifixion.
ENDS