Should a temporary military regime be established in Gaza to set up a pro-Israel local government, or should control be handed over to an Arab power to enable the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA)? This is the political debate in Israel regarding the “day after” in Gaza. However, it is not the Israeli government in Jerusalem making plans, but the PA in Ramallah.
The PA, led by PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, has already devised a plan for the “day after” in Gaza. In coordination with Washington, the PA has prepared a security plan to take over Gaza, despite the Israeli government’s objections. This plan involves deploying 17,000 Palestinian security personnel who lived in Gaza and were active there until 2007, when Hamas violently seized control of the coastal enclave.
Israel cannot decide the future of Gaza alone due to the fundamental factors of the conflict. It must consider the Palestinian, Arab, and especially Egyptian, American, and international angles. The PA sees the current situation as a historic opportunity to bring Gaza back under the central administration...
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Palestinian control of Gaza is the same as Hamas control. Palestinian security forces easily become Hamas militia. The Hamas charter recognises the PLO but says it’s not radical enough. Palestinian freedoms throughout the land need to be better monitored.
Gaza should return to Israeli sovereignty with Jewish towns, farms and industry re-established. The radicalised Palestinians that used to live there must be re-educated, especially the young ones, before being allowed to re-integrate. Those who refuse re-education can be transferred to Ramallah or to an area where their terrorism can be contained. The Egyptian border must become secure so that the terrorists cannot enjoy international support. Maybe the matter will more readily resolve after the US election.