What I think Israel should do...

If you didn't know, "Four Israelis traveling in a vehicle were gunned down by unknown assailants at the entrance to the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, near the West Bank city of Hebron. The attack comes two days before the United States is set to host a meeting between Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."  (Stratfor)

And Later, "A spokesman for Hamas’ military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, claimed responsibility for the Aug. 31 West Bank attack that killed four Israelis — two men and two women, one of whom was pregnant. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and al-Haq also have claimed responsibility for the ambush...At least two gunmen opened fire on the victims’ white, older-model station wagon. Reports indicate the vehicle was riddled with bullets, a sign that the gunmen first disabled the vehicle. A paramedic at the scene said the victims had been dragged from the vehicle and shot in vital organs, execution-style...Hamas, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade and al-Haq also have been known to collaborate on such attacks, so the multiple claims of responsibility are not necessarily in conflict." (Stratfor)


Ok.  Hamas and its allies attacked 4 Israeli civilians in the West Bank.  The purpose is obvious, the derail the upcoming summit, which is with Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, which is controlled by Fatah.  A little history, Fatah was Yassir Arafat's party and very hostile to Israel, but has since become much more tolerant, and the PNA has run the West Bank very successfully and peacefully.  Hamas, the other party in Palestinian politics, controls the Gaza Strip, from where all the rockets and terrorist attacks come from.  Fatah and Hamas DO NOT coordinate political moves, and are generally opposed to each other.  In this case, Hamas is trying to make the point to Israel that Abbas is the wrong person to talk to, and to make a point to the Palestinians that Abbas does not have the West Bank entirely secured.  Simple enough.  So what's to be done?

I think, I hope, I pray the Israelis do not react against the West Bank.  The West Bank has been a peaceful for a long time, and has been rightly rewarded with Israeli with greater freedom than their kin in the Gaza Strip.  The West Bank and its government had nothing to do with this attack - it would be like attacking Saudi Arabia for 9/11, just because many of the terrorists were Saudi.  No, the reaction must be against the Gaza Strip and Hamas.

I don't know what it should be, I'm not sure what all the possible options are, but the West Bank is not responsible and must not suffer from this event.  If Israel wants to move the Palestinians away from terrorism, they must punish terrorists and NOT in any way inhibit those who do not use terror, and in fact reward them when possible.  Abbas is not a particular effective leader, and I'm not sure he's exactly a friend of Israel, but he's at least renounced terror and is willing to live as a neighbor of Israel.  That is all Israel wants, and honestly all they have the right to ask for (peace and tolerance).

Moving against Hamas (without tightening the blockade, which will only intensify support for Hamas, as it will isolate the whole of Gaza) is necessary to show they cannot avoid responsibility just by changing the location of their actions.  This will force the people of the Gaza Strip (who elected Hamas) to question whether their choice of government truly supports their cause, compared against Fatah, which avoids conflicts and whose West Bank realm (for lack of better word) thrives (at least compared to the Gaza Strip).  And if the people of the Gaza Strip insist on supporting terror, well, that is their choice.  In that case there should be a secured route for refugees fleeing the Gaza Strip, if any, to flee not to Egypt or Israel, but to the West Bank.  Then as Gaza is defending itself against the Israeli armed forces, the West Bank will enjoy peace, and those who fled will inform their friends and families back in Gaza, and the people will understand it is possible and preferrable to live in harmony with one's neighbors, and not violently opposed to them.

And perhaps soon, very soon, the West Bank should be granted its independence.  Then what, Hamas?  Then their fight becomes as meaningless as it has been inhumane, and attempts to keep Palestinians trapped in Gaza City will be seen for what they are: a terrible betrayal of the government against its own people, who would sooner see civilians die for propaganda than the actual victory of their people in their quest for independence.

Or maybe Hamas will disarm and everyone will move to the West Bank and be peaceful.  Who knows!