The Washington Post Still Goes To Bat For Hamas

From The Washington Post

A senior Hamas official praised former President Jimmy Carter on Wednesday, a day after he met with the group, but said he failed to persuade the Islamic rulers of Gaza to accept international demands, including recognizing Israel.

...[Deputy foreign minister Ahmed] Youssef said the other two international conditions - renouncing violence and accepting past agreements between Israel and the Palestinians - are irrelevant.

So much for the 3 preconditions. Obviously, Carter made a big impression--just as Hamas continues to make a big impression on the Washington Post. Check out how the paper contradicts itself in 2 successive paragraphs:

According to Hamas ideology, there is no room for a Jewish state in an Islamic Middle East. The militant group has sent dozens of suicide bombers into Israel, killing hundreds.

Even so, some Hamas officials have indicated they could support creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, implying a form of tacit acceptance of Israel.

And the Kassam rockets are just Hamas' way of saying 'welcome to the neighborhood!'

The WaPo must be desperate. Compare this implied acceptance of Israel with the kind of recognition of Israel that Abbas has used:

"Defending his "recognition" of Israel on TV network Al-Arabiya in October 2006, he [Abbas] explained that it was more a practical reality than a meaningful political position. He cited as an example the need for the PA to get $500 million from Israel: "The Palestinian finance minister has to come to an agreement with the Israeli finance minister about the transfer of the money. So how can he make an agreement with him if [the PA finance minister] does not recognize him? So I do not demand of Hamas nor any other to recognize Israel. But from the government that works with Israelis in day to day life, yes."

For Abbas, the PA 'recognizes' Israel to the extent that it allows him to get money from Israel. To what degree does the Washington Post think that Hamas accepts Israel--to the degree that the West will stop withholding money?

Once again, Hamas has no reason not to stand pat, while the West show it is willing to meet them more than half way.

Technorati Tag: Jimmy Carter and Hamas.