Well done, you're a great thinker and writer on these issues, just read your Quadrant piece on the special Saudi book that oil money spreads everywhere. I'm just writing my own piece on the Hamas mass murder, thus I came upon your Substack. I, too, returned to the Hamas Charter to simply explain what they are. Perhaps you'll look at mine when i'm done. It's taking me ages as I am putting in video and linking a few things together.
Thanks for your reflections, Mark. Lots of helpful information.
I've followed this conflict for a while, having lived in the Middle East for many years. The first church in the Middle East in which I learned to worship in Arabic had members and leaders who were mostly Palestinian Christians---wonderful, godly, and servant-hearted brothers and sisters. (When asked, they could all still tell you the city or village in which their parents and grandparents were originally from before they fled their homeland in 1948 or '67.)
I appreciate the way you have taken the time to help people try to get inside the mind of Hamas and why they think they will "win." It is helpful the way that you give insight into the Islamic and Qur'anic ideology and how this influences their expectations. You also make a fascinating point about the "win-win" thinking of Hamas of either being a martyr or gaining military victory.
I'm not sure I agree with your final point that this attack "provides compelling evidence" that "Palestinians will never agree to a two-state solution." You have only demonstrated that Hamas does not support this (they want the whole land), and certainly there are some Palestinians that agree with Hamas. But this does not represent the views of all Palestinians, certainly not the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, nor many other ordinary Palestinians (though severe collective punishment from Israel will only have the effect of driving more ordinary Palestinians toward the extremist side of the spectrum).
Also, your comment appears to gloss over the fact that even before this terrible evil attack by Hamas, the Israeli government itself has been actively working against a two-state solution, at least in recent years (the current government, before the emergency coalition, is the most right-wing in Israel's history). The Israeli government has made no secret that they are not interested in a two-state solution, tolerating and sometimes actively encouraging Israeli incitement and settlement expansion in Palestinian territories.
I doubt that Israel itself would ever agree to a one-state solution. They are adamant to maintain the Jewish character of the state of Israel, which precludes them from fully annexing the Palestinian territories and bringing in many new Arab citizens of Israel.
I do agree with you, however, that the Oct 7 attack will certainly have a negative impact for a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians (particularly if Israel responds in a manner which exacerbates rather than addresses the underlying issues of the conflict, which seems likely). For that reason, Hamas has not only sinned greatly against Israel, but against their own people, through these terrible atrocities.
Thanks again for sharing your perspective on these important matters. May the Lord increase the wisdom and insight of his church on how to reflect the spirit and mind of Christ in evil times.
Dear Mark, would you give permission to translate your blog on Hamas into Finnish language? May I send it to interested persons? May I use it in the publication of our mission. I would of course mention the source.
Well done, you're a great thinker and writer on these issues, just read your Quadrant piece on the special Saudi book that oil money spreads everywhere. I'm just writing my own piece on the Hamas mass murder, thus I came upon your Substack. I, too, returned to the Hamas Charter to simply explain what they are. Perhaps you'll look at mine when i'm done. It's taking me ages as I am putting in video and linking a few things together.
Hi Alison - glad you are finding those writings helpful.
All the best for your piece.
Mark
Thanks for your reflections, Mark. Lots of helpful information.
I've followed this conflict for a while, having lived in the Middle East for many years. The first church in the Middle East in which I learned to worship in Arabic had members and leaders who were mostly Palestinian Christians---wonderful, godly, and servant-hearted brothers and sisters. (When asked, they could all still tell you the city or village in which their parents and grandparents were originally from before they fled their homeland in 1948 or '67.)
I appreciate the way you have taken the time to help people try to get inside the mind of Hamas and why they think they will "win." It is helpful the way that you give insight into the Islamic and Qur'anic ideology and how this influences their expectations. You also make a fascinating point about the "win-win" thinking of Hamas of either being a martyr or gaining military victory.
I'm not sure I agree with your final point that this attack "provides compelling evidence" that "Palestinians will never agree to a two-state solution." You have only demonstrated that Hamas does not support this (they want the whole land), and certainly there are some Palestinians that agree with Hamas. But this does not represent the views of all Palestinians, certainly not the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, nor many other ordinary Palestinians (though severe collective punishment from Israel will only have the effect of driving more ordinary Palestinians toward the extremist side of the spectrum).
Also, your comment appears to gloss over the fact that even before this terrible evil attack by Hamas, the Israeli government itself has been actively working against a two-state solution, at least in recent years (the current government, before the emergency coalition, is the most right-wing in Israel's history). The Israeli government has made no secret that they are not interested in a two-state solution, tolerating and sometimes actively encouraging Israeli incitement and settlement expansion in Palestinian territories.
I doubt that Israel itself would ever agree to a one-state solution. They are adamant to maintain the Jewish character of the state of Israel, which precludes them from fully annexing the Palestinian territories and bringing in many new Arab citizens of Israel.
I do agree with you, however, that the Oct 7 attack will certainly have a negative impact for a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians (particularly if Israel responds in a manner which exacerbates rather than addresses the underlying issues of the conflict, which seems likely). For that reason, Hamas has not only sinned greatly against Israel, but against their own people, through these terrible atrocities.
Thanks again for sharing your perspective on these important matters. May the Lord increase the wisdom and insight of his church on how to reflect the spirit and mind of Christ in evil times.
Thank you S.T. I have made some adjustments in what I have written in response to your reflections.
excellent...May I post this?
Yes, that's fine Barbara.
Dear Mark, would you give permission to translate your blog on Hamas into Finnish language? May I send it to interested persons? May I use it in the publication of our mission. I would of course mention the source.
Yes, Timo. That's fine
Thanks!