One of the more important strategic problems Israel faces as it returns to war in Gaza–this time with an even stronger case for deposing Hamas–is what to do in the aftermath. One member of the Israeli Cabinet, dovish justice minister Tzipi Livni, has introduced a plan that calls for replacing Hamas with the Palestinian Authority (PA), which the terror group dislodged from parliament in a 2006 election, and from office in a 2007 coup.
While it is useful to think about alternatives to Hamas, it is clear that the PA is not much of one. Consider the following:
- The PA’s ambassador to Iran declared earlier this month that Israel’s annihilation had begun.
- The PA’s official daily newspaper has published several articles accusing the U.S. of creating ISIS.
- The PA has been representing Hamas in negotiations in Cairo and elsewhere, despite Hamas’s efforts to stage another coup.
- The terror group associated with the PA’s “moderate” Fatah leadership has supported Hamas throughout the war.
While the PA is considered secular and nationalist as opposed to Hamas, which is Islamist and has broader aims (including the extermination of all Jews), there is not much to distinguish it from its rival, at least from Israel’s perspective. It has not shown much competence in governance, either. It is, frankly, part of the problem.