Let's leave the ethical side of the attack aside. Such a successful operation carried out by Palestinian militants has very rarely been seen in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Infiltrating into such a heavily-guarded military area, and while infiltrating, using Kalashnikov rifles, not the "weapon of the weak," like a suicide attack, making a hole through the wall that blocked passage with a grenade, wearing bullet-proof vests, and moreover, recording the attack on video, are indications of real military discipline and strategic planning.
Who organized this attack? Who were these three men who took away all the urgent hopes from the pro-peace cadres of Israel and Palestine? According to statements from the groups, Hamas, Al-Fatah and three militants with links to the Popular Resistance Committees, which has become popular for its words rather than for its actions, in order to immediately devour Abbas' credit before the eyes of Israel, fomented the belief, detrimental to the Palestinian side, that "something could be achieved through armed struggle." Furthermore, by showing that they could gather different organizations under a single roof, they proved that Abbas could not even govern his own Al-Fatah base, and if he tries to pick up a fight with the groups, he would face a tough front. Israel's response showed that [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon and his government have not changed anyway, and Sharon's principle of collective punishment and the "stupidity" of handing the region over to activists remains the same.
The Americans who think that the elections to be held in Iraq on January 30 will change something, and Turkey hoping to launch a diplomatic attack in the Middle East, should carefully study the Karni attack. On the condition of bringing administrations expected to get along even better with the occupying army, the legitimacy of the elections has been questioned from the very beginning. The three determined militants destroyed the products of a leadership structure, that are products of great efforts, and diplomatic contacts that are products of great sacrifice. Under these conditions, any kind of effort that remains at the political level and cannot come down to a social level, will be short-lived.
Are you waiting for the Iraqi elections to produce a government that can rule the society? Then, you have to wait for this government to give the "return to your country" order to the occupying forces, as the first action it has to take. Are you waiting for it to produce an administration fighting against its own people then to be seen as acceptable by the people? In fact, it is then you will know the time is ripe to return your country. The occupying forces in Iraq have shown an understanding that disregards society, trying to conduct politics with the elites they assembled or brought in their bags. They have ignored religious leaders. Before the occupation, there was nobody they agreed with except Al-Hoy. They have even disregarded tribal chiefs. They did not even pay attention to the warnings of the British who know the setup of Iraqi tribes.
Certainly, the Turkish Foreign Ministry talking about a diplomatic attack in the Middle East knows that wandering around this region is not as easy as it is in Europe. We hope they do not direct their efforts through an area, which like the action of the three militants that lasted several minutes, was smashed to smithereens afterwards. We hope that in producing solutions, they are planning to communicate with the people of that community more than with management elites who are totally strangers to the people of this geography.
January 17, 2004
