In their article Does Hamas still want you dead?, Haaretz wonders out loud:
With the Islamic Jihad, you know where you stand.But what is it that Haaretz is confused about?
They want you dead.
It's part of a worldwide movement of wanting you dead. They take orders from people in Damascus who want you dead, people in Tehran who want you dead, people south of Beirut who want you dead.
With Hamas, knowing where you stand is less cut and dried. With infinitely more support, personnel, sitzfleisch, than the Jihad, with more ideological independence, and a network of free medical clinics and free schools, it almost makes you wonder about the Death to Israel and Death to America and the second graders they dress up and parade around in fatigues and miniature M-16's and garlands of plastic grenades. [emphasis added]
Now as Hamas prepares to enter the Palestinian parliament, and perhaps the cabinet, it's time to ask - Will the real Hamas please stand up?
Are they really unsure of where Hamas stands and what their ultimate goals are? Or is Haaretz just unsure of which kind of rhetoric Hamas will be using now that they have the kind of political cover--and legitimization--that Hizbollah has?
Should Israel now expect that with Hamas having the opportunity to join the government--that Hamas will turn all warm and fuzzy?
Should Israel now expect a Palestinian Arab government that will start to abide by the Road Map--with disarmament and a toning down of rhetoric for starters?
Should Israel now expect a Palestinian Arab government that will offer compromises at the negotiating table?
Should Israel now expect Hamas to stop firing artillery at Israeli cities?
Let's assume that Hamas drops their rhetoric of destroying Israel and adopts instead the rhetoric of...Abbas.
Just what would be gained for Israel?
Just what would Hamas lose?
4 comments:
Hamas is still Hamas and they have made it clear. Too many people want to pretend that they have changed their stripes, but they haven't.
It could be a gain if they truley change political idealism. Look at Shin Fein for example. Only actions will show if they are to be trusted. For the tome being it is the suicide bomber in power... The world would have been a better place with Fatah in power, but who is surprised after their corruption!
Daniel, I am unclear about Sinn Fein. At what point was it acknowleged by other nations that that they really had disarmed?
More, did all of Sinn Fein disarm and disavow terrorism or are there splinter groups that continue? If there are splinter groups, what is the responsibility of Sinn Fein towards them...and what can be expected of a 'reformed' Hamas to crack down on terrorism? Or should we expect more disavowals that it will lead to a civil war?
In any case, is there a groundswell of support for Hamas to lay down their arms as there was in the case of Sinn Fein?
Bottom line, what actions would you realistically expect to see for them to be considered "truly changed"?
Jack, I agree. I've read where Hamas has supposedly fallen for the old "radical-becomes-part-of-the-government-and-becomes-a-moderate" trick.
Yeah, right.
I can hear Sigfried laughing now.
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