Mideast Media Sampler 10/03/2011

From DG:

1) Which ones are the moderates again?

Hamas: 'Resistance' against Israel is only option left for Palestinians via memeorandum

Hamas leader Khaled Meshal told an international conference in Iran on Saturday that "resistance" was the only option left for the Palestinians. Meshal was addressing the "5th International Conference in Support of the Palestinian Intifada" in Iran’s capital Tehran.

Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki (from MEMRI)

The settlement should be based upon the borders of June 4, 1967. When we say that the settlement should be based upon these borders, President [Abbas] understands, we understand, and everybody knows that the greater goal cannot be accomplished in one go. If Israel withdraws from Jerusalem, evacuates the 650,000 settlers, and dismantles the wall – what will become of Israel? It will come to an end.

2) Mahmoud's excellent passive aggressive negotiating tactics 

Land without peace: Why Abbas went to the UN - Charles Krauthammer

This is not ancient history. All three peace talks occurred over the past decade. And every one completely contradicts the current mindless narrative of Israeli “intransigence” as the obstacle to peace. Settlements? Every settlement remaining within the new Palestine would be destroyed and emptied, precisely as happened in Gaza. So why did the Palestinians say no? Because saying yes would have required them to sign a final peace agreement that accepted a Jewish state on what they consider the Muslim patrimony.

And the Palestinians can count on the short memories of the peace processors.

3) But names WILL hurt me 

Why do human rights groups ignore Palestinians’ war of words? by Robert Bernstein

Human rights groups, which could be highlighting the crimes of Arab dictatorships against Israel and each other, have instead chosen to focus primarily on Israel. They continually discount the extraordinary steps Israel takes to protect civilians on both sides — steps approved by military experts, such as using pamphlets, phone calls and even noise bombs to scare people away from a location before a bombing — while whitewashing Hamas’s desire to eliminate a whole country as just bluster and meaningless words. One would think that, of all organizations in the world, human rights groups would particularly believe that words matter. Words inform intent and influence action. Words and actions need to be taken seriously, especially when they are sponsored by governments. The real obstacle to long-term peace is the endless and overwhelming words of hate and incitement to genocide effectively spread to Arabs and Palestinians. One example is the textbooks given to millions of children in Saudi Arabia, distributed in the Arab world and beyond, that label Jews “monkeys and pigs.” This continues to foment discord, radicalism and violence.

Why doesn't Arab reform ever include acceptance of Jews?

Technorati Tag: Israel and Middle East.