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Expecting Hamas to Abandon Ideology for Economics Was a Mistake

(National Interest) David Makovsky - Israel assumed that under the heavy burden of governing Gaza, Hamas would feel the need to prove itself through economic performance. It was believed that economic inducements towards Hamas would moderate its foundational belief that Israel is an illegitimate entity whose very existence must be extinguished and its citizens killed. Economic advancement would bring calm, as it gave Hamas something to lose. This basic assumption was similarly held by many American and European diplomats. In hindsight, there were many indicators that, for Hamas, ideology trumped economics. Hamas used any economic gains not to improve public welfare but rather to secure armaments and build tunnels under Gaza for its fighters. Rocket production took precedence over civilian infrastructure. Reeling from the consequence of its failed concept, Israel is determined not to underestimate Hamas' dedication to its violent ideology again. The writer, a former senior advisor to the U.S. Special Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations, is a Fellow at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
2023-10-29 00:00:00
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