10/25/23 Meron Rapoport on Netanyahu’s Choice to Aid Hamas
Oct 27, 2023
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Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport joins Scott to discuss Netanyahu's policy of propping up Hamas and the political ramifications. They delve into the history of Israeli strategy, current geopolitical dynamics, and predictions about the impending invasion and Netanyahu's fate.
Netanyahu's strategy of promoting Hamas in Gaza is aimed at weakening Fatah and preventing Palestinian statehood.
Netanyahu's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict avoids meaningful negotiations and perpetuates the status quo of Israeli control.
Deep dives
Israeli Doctrine of Separation
The Israeli government has long prioritized the separation of the Gaza Strip from the West Bank in order to weaken Palestinian claims for statehood. This doctrine dates back to the 1990s, and it was further advanced by Ariel Sharon's unilateral withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. The idea was to divide the Palestinian territories and make it harder for the PLO to assert its authority over the entire population. Netanyahu inherited this doctrine and used it to his advantage, leveraging the political division and the presence of Hamas in Gaza to weaken Fatah, the PA, and any prospects for a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu's Strategy and Motivations
Netanyahu's strategy was to maintain Hamas rule in Gaza to perpetuate the political separation between Hamas and Fatah. By doing so, he undermined Fatah's influence in the West Bank and weakened Palestinian demands for statehood. Netanyahu believed that Hamas was a weak organization that posed little military threat to Israel. He even built a sophisticated fence along the Gaza-Israel border for added security. While Netanyahu knew the dangers posed by Hamas, he believed that Israel's military superiority and the fence would provide the necessary defense. Additionally, Netanyahu pursued a policy of bypassing the Palestinian Authority and negotiating peace agreements with Arab states instead, further sidelining the Palestinian leadership.
Criticism of Netanyahu's Approach
Critics argue that Netanyahu's approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a way to avoid meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians and perpetuate the status quo of Israeli control. They contend that Netanyahu's focus on building relations with Arab states and strengthening Israel's position without addressing the Palestinian issue directly undermines the prospects for a comprehensive and just peace agreement. The insistence on recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, the rejection of negotiations with the PA, and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank contribute to the ongoing tensions and perpetuate the cycle of violence.
Uncertainty and Future Prospects
The current crisis has led to rising public anger and a decline in Netanyahu's popularity. While there is a desire for change among the Israeli public, the specifics of who will succeed Netanyahu remain uncertain. Possible options include figures like Benny Gantz who may be more open to negotiations with the Palestinian leadership. However, the immediate focus is on the crisis at hand, and a full-scale ground invasion of Gaza appears unlikely given the potential risks and complexities involved. The aftermath of the conflict may create opportunities for renewed dialogue and a reevaluation of the Israeli approach to the Palestinian issue, but the path forward remains uncertain.
Scott talks with Israeli journalist Meron Rapoport about Netanyahu’s policy to prop up Hamas and the broader political ramifications of the current escalation. They begin by working through the history of the Israeli strategy to keep Hamas in power in an attempt to discredit the Palestinian Authority and pro-Palestinian advocates more broadly. Scott then asks Rapoport about the current geopolitical dynamic in the region and the political dynamic within Israel after the attacks. They end with some predictions about the impending invasion and the fate of Netanyahu.
