Free Gaza

 
There is no doubt that the people of Gaza are oppressed. They are terrorized, deprived of freedom, have to be content with a very low standard of living and can't freely go where they want. They have to abide by stringent rules that include a dress code, rules of public behavior and limits on their occupation and business.

Gaza needs to be freed the same way the Germans needed freedom from the Nazis, the same as the Japanese needed freedom from their military regime, and the peoples of the Soviet Union needed to be freed from Communist oppression.

I don't remember much objection to the blockades imposed by the Allies on Nazi Germany or Imperial Japan. There was a bit more objection to pressuring the Soviets, but that was mostly because people didn't believe that this pressure would succeed.

There is no real difference between big bad boys like the Nazis, Imperial Japanese, Soviet Communists and Hamas. Hamas is oppressing the population, attacking its neighbors Israel and, to a lesser extent, Egypt. Hamas is causing terrible suffering in the Gaza strip. Gaza has to be freed.

So why isn't Gaza being freed? After bickering with each other for a while Egypt and Israel imposed a blockade on the Hamas regime. It's nowhere as severe as those imposed on the Nazis - humanitarian aid is getting through in quantities sufficient for the population to live relatively comfortably. Just today 105 trucks with food, fuel and medical supplies entered Gaza. 30 trucks with supplies brought by the "Flotilla" were denied entry by Hamas. Israel is regularly admitting hundreds of patients that can't be treated in Gaza into Israeli hospitals. Egypt is ignoring massive smuggling through tunnels under its border. I don't recall the Allies sending anything but bombers into Nazi Germany.

The problem, in my opinion, is that Hamas, hiding behind the Palestinian independence mantle is conducting a very sophisticated propaganda campaign. It is well funded by Iran and some Arabs and uses these funds to create an image of an Israeli Goliath crushing a Palestinian David. Since the ultimate goal of Hamas, Iran and most of the Arab world is the destruction of Israel and since there are enough non-Muslims who support this goal, this mode of operation works well for Hamas. It does not work for the people of Gaza or the Palestinians in general but only for Hamas and it's sponsor Iran.

The Islamist movement, of which Hamas is an important part, is a threat to all - including non-fanatical Muslims. But the Islamists are very smart in using what Lenin called "useful idiots". The Soviets and the Nazis used this system to great advantage. The principle is simple: convince idealists, especially famous ones, that your cause is righteous and they will do your bidding. Find people who are known in their own countries, respected and credible. I believe that most of the Free Gaza movement supporters are "useful idiots". There is no doubt that there are many who support the Islamists because they hate Jews and can't see that they are the next on the list of targets. The most credible propagandists sincerely think they are doing good. In reality they are legitimatizing and aiding their own manipulators. It worked for the Nazis, for the Soviets, and it's working for the Islamists.

Ultimately this is a war for public opinion and no war can be won with a defensive strategy alone. Regrettably this is what the West seems to be doing: it explains and responds. The reaction to the Free Gaza Flotilla incident is a great example.

Instead of defending itself from baseless claims, Israel should go on the offensive. Why not start with a series of ads in newspapers followed by articles by respected writers calling for a Free Gaza, free from the oppression of Islamists including Hamas. Israel can use the same terminology its enemies use but turn it on its head. None of this has or should be done directly by the State of Israel. There are a number of organizations, charities and pro-Palestinian bodies that can be used to do the job. "Useful idiots" can be useful both ways.