Najwa Doughman’s understandably biased opinion article (“Stand by Gaza,” Jan. 21) states that “there is no better solution for improving lives on both sides than to simply end the siege. If Israel does this, there will be no reason for Hamas to fire rockets.” Frankly, this is simply untrue. While it is clear that Israel’s attack on Gaza is aggravating a humanitarian crisis, as said by Doughman, it is not as if Hamas’ launching of rockets into Israel was a response to the invasion. In fact, there are no indicators at all that Hamas will stop firing Qassam rockets into Israel once Israel halts its attack. It is well-known that “Hamas is a religious movement, and its formal creed is to reject the possibility of Jewish statehood...because there is no place for a Jewish state in a Muslim land” (The Economist, Jan. 8). Given Hamas’ dedication to eradicating the Israeli people, it is hard to believe Doughman when she says that there will be no reason for Hamas to fire rockets if Israel ends its siege. Since 1948, Israel has sought formal recognition of its right to exist as a legitimate state by its Arab neighbors. It seems to me this might be a necessary step if Hamas, as the representative government of the Palestinian people, wishes to establish peace for its citizens and the region.
Sam Dreiman
CLAS IV
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