Qatari money brought into Gaza to pay Hamas government employees
Photo: AFP
Cash for quiet in Gaza
Op-ed: It appears improving the grave economic situation in the strip is the only way to restore calm to the border, so Israel allowed 3 suitcases of Qatari money into Gaza. This particularly angers Defense Minister Lieberman, whose strong objections are being ignored by Netanyahu as the prime minister promotes an arrangement with Hamas.
The suitcases full of dollar bills that went into the Gaza Strip this weekend are apparently the only solution for the Palestinian enclave: improving the grave economic situation in return for quiet. In fact, Israel is trying to buy quiet with dollars. One might call this protection racket or rewarding terrorism, but any proposed arrangement between Israel and Hamas incorporates this formula in one way or another.
The images of the money suitcases were painful for many to see, not just because of the money, but because this was done under the right-wing Netanyahu government, which for years have been preaching a different policy against Hamas. It's also painful because it appears the same result could've been achieved seven months ago, sparing us the recent violence on the Gaza border.
The transfer of the Qatari money was only the first part in the gradual implementation of the Israel-Hamas arrangement, which includes a ceasefire before the reconstruction of Gaza. Friday saw a certain decline in the number of incidents on the border—less burning tires and fewer explosives. But there was one incident in which a Palestinian was able to infiltrate Israel and set fire to a greenhouse in Kibbutz Netiv HaAsara, right under the noses of the IDF observers and the paratroopers force stationed there.
Qatari money brought into Gaza to pay Hamas government employees (Photo: AFP)
An initial investigation of the incident found the observers spotted the suspect near the border fence even before he crossed it and continued monitoring the situation. Large military forces were called to the scene to surround and isolate the area. Troops then launched search for the suspect, eventually apprehending him near a greenhouse located about one kilometer away from the kibbutz—but only after he had set it on fire. The IDF did not retaliate to this infiltration to avoid a flare-up.
The Palestinian who crossed the border fence was stopped 500-700 meters into Israeli territory. In the past, infiltrators from Gaza were stopped immediately upon crossing the border. This is a grave incident that must therefore be thoroughly investigated to prevent it from happening again.
Palestinian infiltrator sets fire to greenhouse (Photo: Dedi Poled)
Back to the Qatari money. On Friday, there were reports that Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman was against allowing the money into the strip, claiming it would only secure short-term quiet. Other ministers in the Security Cabinet were quick to mention, however, that Lieberman was the first to initiate contact with the Qataris.
Hamas government employees waiting in line to get paid (Photo: Reuters)
And yet the real story here is that the prime minister is going around the defense minister and managing Israel's security with only the IDF chief. Over the past few months, Lieberman has been pushing for a decisive blow against Hamas, but Netanyahu decided to accept the IDF's position. This is also evident in the fact the prime minister is promoting a strategic move—the arrangement with Hamas—which the defense minister vehemently opposes.
If the arrangement is successful, or if the understandings reached following the 2014 Operation Protective Edge are restored, Lieberman would be seen as one who bet on the wrong horse. But if the arrangement crashes and burns, he could gain back his professional and political dignity.
