Recognizing that negotiations need to begin with the issues of territory and security does not mean that it will be easy to come back to the table. In particular, the recent announcement of an agreement between Fatah and Hamas raises profound and legitimate questions for Israel – how can one negotiate with a party that has shown itself unwilling to recognize your right to exist. In the weeks and months to come, Palestinian leaders will have to provide a credible answer to that question. Meanwhile, the United States, our Quartet partners, and the Arab states will need to continue every effort to get beyond the current impasse.
President Obama's Middle East speech
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Yunis Al-Astal: The [Jews] are brought in droves to Palestine so that the Palestinians – and the Islamic nation behind them – will have the honor of annihilating the evil of this gang...In just a few years, all the Zionists and the settlers will realize that their arrival in Palestine was for the purpose of the great massacre, by means of which Allah wants to relieve humanity of their evil.
Hamas MP and Cleric Yunis Al-Astal
Somehow, I get the impression that Hamas does more than just not recognize Israel's right to exist--
they are acting upon it. Obama expects Hamas/Fatah to give an answer to the question: how can one negotiate with a party that has shown itself unwilling to recognize your right to exist?
My question: who says Hamas/Fatah wants to negotiate?
Maybe Obama could help me out by pointing out previous examples where the Palestinian Arab leaders negotiated with Israel and made concessions, which is--after all--what negotiation is all about.
Technorati Tag: Obama and Israel.
1 comment:
Israel is being asked in a word, to make suicidal concessions to people who want to slaughter it.
I would not recommend the Israeli government make them. To put not too fine a word on it, Israel has run out of room to make concessions.
And if Israel foolishly makes more, its time for the Jews to practice their swimming lessons. For the Arabs are not going to leave a vulnerable Israel alone for long.
That is why Arabs chant, "Jews, remember Khaybar, the Army Of Mohammed will return." And the intent behind the words are genocide.
What we can see is America's President went back on commitments given to Israel as recently as 2004, which allowed Israel to take the risk of leaving Gaza.
And if the US government does not consider itself bound by earlier assurances to Israel, any future promises made to Israel are worthless.
Keep that in mind while Israel is being asked again to take big risks for peace but won't be suitably compensated for them. Those risks are just not worth taking.
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