Gaza’s blunder–Old and New

It is said that two of Israel’s greatest heroes were also two of Israel’s greatest “blunderers”. One is Moshe Dayan, who is known for his amazing military victories (and also for his archeological discoveries). However, he ruined his reputation by handing over (the keys) authority of the Temple Mount after the Six-Day War to the Muslim Waqf. Apparently, he was not knowledgeable enough of Jewish history to know that the site was the most important and holiest spot to Jews for thousands of years. In addition, after finally recapturing the area from Jordan in a war that caused many Jewish soldiers to die and from the Jewish people again completely owning this holy site, he had the unmitigated chutzpa to give its control away.

The second hero turned “traitor” was Ariel Sharon, which is what the subject of this article leads to. Everyone knows that he was the amazing Israeli general that gets the credit for turning the tide in favor of Israel during the Yom Kipur War. He deserves tremendous credit for that. However, unfortunately, 29 years later, he committed one of Israel’s most serious blunders. Allegedly, to cover up his pending prosecution on some illegal actions, he maneuvered Israel into relinquishing control over Gaza. Not only did thousands of Jewish people have to be evacuated from there and lose their homes and livelihoods, but instead of Gaza being turned into a “paradise” for Arabs that lived there, it became the Hamas stronghold that the world has seen. The October pogrom has had terrible repercussions in Israel and all over the world, as we know.

Now therein lies the subject of this post. Now that the main part of the Gaza war is over, the American plan is to oversee the territory with an international committee. That may be a wonderful theoretical strategy but why should enemies of Israel be members of that “Peace board”? To have Turkey and Qatar and even Putin sitting on that committee is like having the wolf guard the hen house.

Turkey’s Erdogan has stated clearly that he hates Israel and has, in essence, cut off relations with it. He also hosts Hamas leaders and supports them. Qatar has been funding Hamas for many years and also houses some of its leaders. He should sit on a Gaza board? Hanan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, stated: “I learned with deep sorrow that my dear brother Ismail Haniyeh was martyred in Iran,” He wrote this in a July 31, 2024, post on X. Fidan said Haniyeh “never lost his faith in peace,” and offered condolences. This individual who mourned a Hamas murderer, should sit on a Gaza board? Vladimir Putin has been invited as well. This “Ukraine-war-instigator” should sit on the Gaza board? Where has all decency and common sense gone?

We can only hope that the Lord above has a better plan for Gaza….and Israel