WSJ is letting Avner Cohen make his case that one thing led to another.

“How Bismark created the Soviet Union”.

“How Harriet Beecher Stowe started the civil war”.

“How Ronald Reagan created al Qaeda”.

The future is hard to predict, especially in advance. Surely Israel did not intend that Hamas should come to rule in Gaza. But one thing does lead to another, often by paths beyond human wit to foresee. Or by improbable paths.

It’s possible that in hindsight, tracing the birth and growth of Hamas, Israel’s policies have played their part.

Any nation that could steer clear of the law of unintended consequences would lead a charmed life. It’s not yet been done.