I am disgusted to realize that our President has started action without preparation and without thinking of the consequences and has thus contributed to the great disaster unfolding before our eyes.

 
Wanting and believing to create justice, our President, who in my view had not created anything positive since his election, and after causing misfortune in the Arab world with all these revolutions which did not succeed, has recently tried to make peace between Palestinians and Israelis, without weighing the pros and cons and without preparing the fields of action for his envoy Mr. Kerry. Therefore, horrible things have emerged, such as destruction and unnecessary deaths because Hamas placed the rockets in homes, schools and mosques, according to the words of the UN. I think the damage is almost irreparable for both sides, because it includes destruction and deaths, including women and children.

  
Although the Israelis have taken the utmost care to warn the people of Gaza to get away, this did not help, because they could not go against Hamas’ orders to remain in place to protect the missiles that were in their houses. Thereby Hamas had created a dilemma for Arabs and Israelis alike and are equally responsible for the death of those they did not let escape. In addition, I think that the Americans and the Europeans acted cowardly by not having intervened to stop both sides from fighting. We have proved again, as in World War II, that human beings were just observers and not guards.

  
Already during the kidnapping of three youth, we could have reacted vigorously. I hope that after this horrible episode, Israelis and Arabs will find a modus vivendi to live together and prosper together. Actually, the Arab world and the Jewish world could have very well understood and helped each other. Unfortunately, Obama was elected President, but he is not up to running a world like ours. By choosing an envoy who did not understand either the Arab world or the Jewish world, and moreover, who was not apt for his task and took bad initiatives, Obama has unwittingly contributed, without saying it openly, to what is a disaster for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Based on these facts, the events have exacerbated the situation and will have an impact for generations to come.

  
Kerry did not seem to be the man who could create an atmosphere of peace between Abbas and Netanyahu. Instead, he created a constant tension for both parties, and even leaving a door open for Hamas to start provoking Israel. Obama who had already thought to save Hamas, which had financial difficulties, came up with the idea of ​​uniting Hamas with the Palestinian Authority and thus cleaning Hamas of its image of terrorists. Abbas innocently accepted the request of the United States because Obama has made him believe or even hinted that the United States would be there to support him.  In fact, Kerry, who sought only his own success, came forward without thinking or knowing what terrorism really is. I thought this was alarming, coming from a former senator and a former veteran of the Vietnam War.

       
The former Senator of the United States easily embraced the idea of the ​​union between the West Bank Palestinians and terrorists like Hamas, always trying to please his bosses. I do not think Kerry understood the ramifications of the whole situation. As the son of an arbitrator and having lived with the Arabs, I followed Kerry for years in the USA and I do not think he was the right person for this type of negotiations.

 
As Kerry wanted to succeed, overwhelming the Israelis with his so-called advice and believing to convince them, Kerry naively dramatized things, so they seemed more like threats than like advice. I do not think the Israelis need this kind of advice that could only diminish American prestige, and if the Israelis have listened, it was out of politeness and consideration for their ally. All these threats, which were repeated by Kerry, finally gave rise to doubt and made the Israelis that followed the daily evolution, edgy and uneasy.

    
Hamas began first by kidnapping and killing three innocent young Israelis. This act could only diminish Hamas and its supporters. Qatar, which is financing Hamas, is not less responsible. Qatar is acting under the pretext of pulling Hamas away from Iran, but in reality, Khaled Meshal, the Hamas leader was already living in Qatar and led a majestic life on the account of the poor Palestinians, who were not looking for all this mess. Being familiar with the Arabs, I know that the simple people are careful. They do not like force and violence, or being involved with the affairs of government. I suppose that the Palestinian people in Gaza had no choice but to follow terrorist propaganda.

   
Kerry's words have certainly given the green light to Hamas to start attacking Israel with rockets, eventually challenging the Israeli people, so that despite the wisdom of Netanyahu and Abbas, who knew each other for a long time, Israel had no choice but to respond.

   
Abbas and Netanyahu actually got along more or less well for years. But Abbas, who did not want to miss his share of a possible victory of Hamas, joined the arguments of Hamas that had agreed to unite with Abbas, following the intervention of the United States. This had surprised even some people of the Left who eventually reflected upon it and now defend Israel.

    
Meanwhile, Kerry met with the Turks and Qatar to formulate an action which, as per Kerry could create an agreement between Hamas and the Israelis. Therefore neither the Israelis, nor the Egyptians, nor the Saudis could be satisfied with the meeting, which demonstrates the inability of judgment Kerry.
However, the U.S. Congress had not forgotten that Israel is a good ally of the United States and gave it its support in this time of crisis. In contrast, Kerry seems to have forgotten the alliances of the United States and focused only on the other side.
    
Copyright 2014 Emile Tubiana