The reading of Adnan Abu Amer's Al-Monitor article raised rueful thoughts in my mind. It seems to me that despite the fact that we have lived next to and among the Palestinians for almost 100 years, there has been no progress at all in the Palestinian understanding of Israeli society, its character and its principles. As if 67 years have not passed since Israeli independence and the Palestinian Nakba. As if we are not intermixed and jumbled together, cheek by jowl. Indeed, we still have a very long way to go until mutual understanding will prevail between us. I hope that we understand them more than they understand us.
According to Abu Amer, Hamas inflicted a resounding defeat on Israel in Operation Protective Edge in July-August 2014, at least according to the “war diary” and the leaks and testimonials publicized in Israel since the operation. In the exact same breath, Abu Amer details the fact that none of Hamas’ objectives in that war were achieved: the passages were not opened, the closure was not removed, a naval port was not established and an airport will not be built. So how is it that one side (Israel) was defeated in the war, while the other side (Hamas) did not achieve any of its avowed goals?