A Hamas Victory Would Be Good For Israel

Yes, you read the title correctly. A Hamas victory in the Palestinian elections would, in my opinion, benefit Israel in this situation. No, I don't suddenly believe elections have granted the Islamist party legitimacy; they are still a terrorist organization openly devoted to goals of pure evil such as Israel's destruction.

But Israel for years has been dealing and getting absolutely nowhere with the Palestinian Authority's ruling Fatah Party, which believes the exact same thing and hides it. Fatah, the party of Arafat and Abbas, has never truly wanted peace with Israel, never kept a peace-related agreement (such as disarming terrorists), and even sponsors its own terrorist group, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. But because Fatah tantalizingly keeps promising a wishful peace in exchange for Israeli concessions (land and otherwise), Israel continues to negotiate itself practically out of existence for the smallest glimmer of hope.

But as we have seen, this dynamic has utterly failed to achieve peace. Even after Israel withdrew from Gaza, the Palestinian Authority merely demanded more, and declared their intention to take Jerusalem. Such actions (not to mention the terrorism and their talks in Arabic to Arab-only audiences) communicate strikingly clearly that Fatah wants a state not beside Israel, but in place of it.

Hamas's intentions, of course, are no different. They too desire not peace, but to conquer Israel. But the difference once again is that Hamas openly admits it. No promises, no negotiations, no illusions - Hamas expresses its intentions loud and clear, front and center.

And for an Israel that certainly can't afford any more concessions without endangering its viability as a state, this would be a much needed reality shock; no more delusions of having a potential peace partner. And with the non-existent option of a political agreement hence finally removed, Israel will at last be free to pursue a realistic and sensible strategy: peace through strength.

A Hamas victory should change nothing on the ground between Israel and the PA, but now Israel can finally move ahead from its longtime policy of wishful but unsuccessful thinking.