Op-Ed: How I Knew Hamas Would Not React To Flag Parade

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The sense of unease in Israel over the last few days was palpable. People were talking in hushed tones about Jerusalem Day festivities, warning that the traditional flag parade could incite nationalist tensions, foment violence, reenact last years clashes between Israeli Arabs and Jews. News anchors discussed the possibility of  Hamas rocket attacks in response to the shocking Israeli impertinence of marching with Israeli flags through the Old City. Politicians warned of violence on Temple Mount if Jews continued to pray and sing there.

It reached the point that even foreign powers warned Israel not to go ahead with the usual flag parade. Police said that they would limit the number of people on the parade, ostensibly due to last April’s Meron disaster but also in an attempt to discourage people from attending and agitating local Arabs.

Many ordinary citizens were affected by the dark warnings and foreboding being promulgated by the media. Some contemplated staying at home or not going to public events. Others felt that the flag parade was “inappropriate” at a sensitive time after weeks of terror attacks and shrill anti-Israel rhetoric even among Israeli Arabs.

It was the youth who demonstrated the healthiest response to the hysteria and demagoguery. The national-religious youth were not willing to forego the traditional march, did not fancy surrendering to threats and unfurled Israeli flags at every opportunity, even in the hostile environs of the Muslim quarter. Even when bottles and chairs were thrown at them, they refused to be deterred and continued singing, dancing and celebrating Israel’s sovereignty and the amazing gift of being able to return and pray at the holy places- the Western Wall, the Cave of Machpela and Temple Mount itself, for those who received rabbinic permission to ascend there.

Yet even before the event, before Jerusalem Day, I remained unperturbed by the parade and by other events taking place. Sure, there are always individual felons who could be incited into an act of terrorism but, with the huge police presence in Jerusalem, it did not seem likely that anyone would initiate a suicidal attempt to harm Israelis.

More to the point, it is clear that even the individual acts are propelled by Hamas, which chooses when it wants to encourage violence and mayhem and when it prefers other methods of opposition. Currently, the Israeli government is a dream for Hamas. Despite having some hawkish elements, the vast majority of the government are left-leaning liberals who are only too happy to placate Arab Israelis as well as Palestinians with significant concessions. The Palestinian construction in Israeli-held Area C continues unabated and almost uninterrupted, while Mansour Abbas has received huge funds to help the Bedouin who are fast creating their own mini-state in the Negev. Israel’s tottering, weak government is open to all forms of extortion, as proved by MK Rinawie-Zouabi, whose recent threat to leave the coalition was subdued by generous promises of aid to Arab-Israeli towns and communities.

Thus it was patently obvious that Hamas, which has strong associations with the Ra’am party since both hold allegiance to the Muslim brotherhood, would not rock the boat. Just as Ra’am studiously ignored the flag parade, focusing on its goal of promoting Israeli Arab aspirations, the terror organization also had a muted response, stating that it would respond “at the right time.” The Likud was quick to claim that Hamas is afraid of a similar Israeli bombardment to that which occurred last year during the Guardian of the Walls campaign, but the truth is that Hamas has no real reason to instigate unrest which could lead to the fall of the government and the establishment of a much more right-wing element in power. A few flags are nothing compared with the largesse enjoyed by Israel’s Arabs, who for the first time find themselves in positions of power and influence.