Middle East expert: “The vast majority of Palestinians just finally want peace” Russia moves ahead with plans to resume nuclear weapons tests

Hamas launched several attacks on Israel on Saturday. The fighters are extremely cruel to civilians. They shoot people in the streets, take hostages and fire rockets into Israel. Nevertheless, there are many countries, including Switzerland, that have not yet classified Hamas as a terrorist organization. Why?
Margaretha Johannsen: In my view, Hamas is absolutely a terrorist organization. I can only speculate why Switzerland has not yet classified Hamas as such. I suspect it has to do with the Swiss concept of neutrality. Otherwise, there are some states in which Hamas enjoys a certain degree of sympathy. For example in Africa or the Arab region. This is because it is seen as an organization that does not submit to the dictates of the West.

Some experts suspect that Hamas is supported by Iran. What do you think?
I’m not sure, but I don’t think Iran is behind Hamas. In my opinion, Hamas is an autonomous actor in Palestine.

To what extent does Hamas have the support of Palestinian civil society?
Hamas is not only a terrorist organization, it is also the government of the Palestinian Gaza Strip. In 2006, Palestinians there voted for Hamas. Since then, the terrorist organization has ruled with an iron fist and has not allowed new elections. In the past, there have always been Palestinians who publicly criticized Hamas and these critics still exist. However, they represent only a very small part of the Palestinian population. Because they endanger their lives with their criticism.

And what does the rest of the population think about Hamas?
She is conflicted. Hamas is actually completely inferior to Israel militarily. Nevertheless, it has managed to cause much suffering and destruction in Israel today. On the one hand, this gave many Palestinians a certain satisfaction, because they themselves have felt the oppression of Israel over the years and many Palestinians have died at the hands of the Israeli army. Much, much more than Israelis. For years they felt weak towards Israel. Now these attacks make them feel strong for once. This certainly impresses many people.

And on the other side?
On the other hand, Israel is now taking even tougher action against Hamas, even without taking into account the losses among the civilian population. The vast majority of Palestinians simply want peace at last. But they currently have only two options: either they barricade themselves in their bunkers and accept Hamas’ brutal actions, or they take to the streets, resist the terrorist organization and risk their lives.

How did Hamas manage to get elected in the first place?
Even a terrorist organization has to do ‘good’ to some extent to get the population on its side. For example, Hamas has in the past ensured that scarce resources in the Gaza Strip are fairly distributed and that electricity and supplies work. They have essentially proven to be an organization that supports citizens and their causes. But Hamas – like many terrorist organizations – has two faces. It uses brutality and violence not only against Israel, but also against its own people when they revolt.

Is peace in the Middle East even further away?
That is a difficult question. The fact that the situation has now escalated to this level may be a wake-up call for the international community to respond. Until now, the West has simply accepted, or at least only criticized, the Israeli occupation and human rights violations behind closed doors. The escalation raises hopes among Palestinians that peace efforts will resume with international help.

What might such peace look like?
The goal would actually still be a two-state solution. But I don’t know if it’s too late for that yet. A one-state solution in which both peoples live together on an equal footing and with mutual respect would also be possible. However, this would require simultaneously strengthening the peace movements in Palestine and Israel. Only in this way could this terrible escalation have ultimately led to something good.

So the Israeli civilian population also wants to live together peacefully?
Parts of it, yes. Unfortunately, the fact is that there is currently a very problematic government in power in Israel. A right-wing radical government that wants to annex the entire West Bank and possibly Jordan beyond. This right-wing radical government was elected by the Israeli people. This was the only way for Israel to develop into a country that would not give up its occupation of Palestinian territory.

So to some extent the Israeli people have followed this path.
Yes. And yet there are still many people in Israel who deplore and criticize their government’s policies and are also committed to peace at a political level. Friends of mine, for example, are completely desperate about the path that Israeli politics, but also the majority of the population, has taken. I understand this desperation well. I can only hope that those who want peace will not give up.

When I was looking for an expert for this interview, I would actually have liked to talk to Palestinians from academia. But when I started looking, I noticed that they were often accused of anti-Semitism. Partly right, for example because they relativize or deny the Holocaust. In other cases, however, I could not understand the accusation. What do you think?
I believe that. In Germany, people are particularly cautious about this topic. This is because of our past, because of the Holocaust. I have been concerned with the conflict in the Middle East for decades. During this time, I have always done my utmost to use down-to-earth language, because I know that the only way to avoid accusations of anti-Semitism is to express yourself in a very neutral way. I also have a heart. But in my writings the heart plays no role, only the head. This balancing act between criticism of Israel and anti-Semitism is exhausting, but that’s just the way it is when you’re a scientist working in a field full of mines.

Then you are now the right person to answer the following question: To what extent is Israel partly responsible for the current escalation?
She is at least indirectly guilty. In all these years, Israel has not allowed a peaceful solution to the conflict. Israel, with all its military strength, did not have to do that.

What does the near future look like in the conflict zone from your perspective?
That’s difficult to answer. Even if Israel succeeds in destroying Hamas, another organization will likely take its place sooner or later. Maybe Islamic Jihad. Because as long as the Israeli occupation continues, as long as there is no just peace, there will always be people who will benefit from the conflict.