“Where are the Arabs? Where are Arab governments? Where are Arab rulers?” It has become customary for every side looking for a way out of a major crisis to send out such distress calls, just as they are now doing in the occupied Palestinian territories, where civilians are being killed indiscriminately, houses are being demolished and basic services, such as electricity and roads, being destroyed.

The groups making these calls ought to ask themselves: Who consulted Arab people or governments before kidnapping the Israeli soldier or before carrying out military operations that only lead to enormous damage being inflicted on the people, as we are now witnessing in Gaza? Did the Palestinian government inform Arab leaders about the operation or seek their advice? Why then are they entitled to ask for help?

Regretfully, Hamas has only paid attention to its own views. It has openly rejected the united Arab stance and announced it was determined to pursue the what it believed was the only method, while being fully aware that most Arab governments called for calm and not for carrying out small acts that could lead to huge damage, as was the case in the instance . While Arab governments reject the kidnapping of the Israeli soldier, this sort of action is exactly what Israel wants, in order to justify an unequal confrontation between one party which strikes blows and another that complains and seeks help from the helpless.

What can Arab governments do in this case? Nothing, except condemn and denounce Israeli aggression. No Arab government or people want to be pulled into a battle they know they will lose. The history of the four countries, which border Palestine, is ample proof of this. Why should they destroy their countries? Is it for the sake of defending the kidnapping of an Israeli soldier? What victory is worth all this bloodshed and destruction?

The Palestinian president and experience Palestinian groups warned Hamas and other factions of the consequences of firing missiles devoid of any military value and of entering into unequal battles that will destroy everything the Palestinians have built so far and lead to a political, military and moral failure.

No one has the right to call on Arab governments to rescue them, when they were not consulted in the first place. Indeed, the Hamas government turned its back on Arab decisions and advice. Those who got involved in this vicious fight and who involved the Palestinian people with them should bear responsibility and prove what wisdom, if any, lies behind it. Has Israel lost? Did the kidnapping liberate an inch of Palestinian land or a single individual? Are the results worth all the damages caused?

I know many are asking themselves these very questions but lack the courage to say them in public, for fear of embarrassment. They too look forward to an end to this disaster caused by a worthless kidnapping.