Posted on 02/13/2006 9:13:44 AM PST by Clive
By inviting Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to visit Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrust himself into the Palestinian debate.
While Putin doesn’t consider Hamas a terrorist organization, as the U.S. does, it still begs the question as to whether Hamas’ stunning electoral victory is good or bad for Israel, good or bad for peace?
Initial hysteria in some quarters over Hamas democratically winning electoral power has eased. It caught the world by surprise — except for Israel, where many had anticipated a Hamas win.
In Israel and elsewhere, there is uncertainty about what it will mean to prospects of “peace” with the adamantly anti-Israel Hamas in power.
A case can be made that Hamas’ win is a good thing and brings clarity to the issue. Up to now, Hamas’ stated goal has been to eliminate Israel, and it has been responsible for numerous Israeli deaths.
Hamas differs from the late Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian Authority (PA), Fatah, etc., in that Arafat and his ilk talked peace but didn’t practise it. They were more duplicitous than forthright, and persuaded many in the West and some in Israel that with goodwill, tolerance and compromise, “peace” was possible.
With Hamas in power, there’s no excuse for wishful thinking or not knowing the stakes. Since Arafat’s death, it’s been revealed that something like $700 million is missing or unaccounted for in Palestinian funds. Corruption was (is?) so widespread that it may be beyond control.
Hamas is not tainted with endemic corruption. It has delivered safe streets, social services, schools for the poor. There is apparent integrity.
For the U.S., Israel or any government to refuse to deal with Hamas now that it has achieved power through a democratic election would be foolish and hypocritical.
U.S. President George Bush has said a hazard of democracy is the election of people you may not approve, but that the U.S. (and Israel) will deal with Hamas so long as it renounces terror and the destruction of Israel. Until then, no funding.
Hamas’ militancy as a terrorist organization will likely be modified now that it has power.
We all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely, but it’s even more true that absolute lack of power corrupts in a different way, with no burden of responsibility and accountability.
What is different today among Palestinians is that while Hamas is Israel’s implacable enemy, it is also in a delicate position.
When terrorists achieve power, they can change.
Menachem Begin, who was a terrorist against the British, changed. In Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta was a terrorist who guided the Mau Mau but became the father of his country on independence.
In Tsarist Russia, the Bolsheviks were terrorists until they seized power and became the government. Likewise in many countries around the world.
To refuse to deal with Hamas on principle, because of its past record of terrorism and before seeing how pragmatic it may be, is folly.
The carrot to persuade Hamas to behave reasonably is outside funding to Palestinians.
Hamas knows that, and it must be given a chance to modify its actions, if not its rhetoric.
In the meantime, it’s probably a good thing that there can be no doubts in Israel what the stakes are.
The debate is suddenly simplified.
Israelis seem more sanguine than outsiders about their future. It may even be easier to deal with Hamas than with the sly leaders of Fatah whose first priority was their Swiss bank accounts.
If it wishes, Hamas surely has more control over suicide zealots than Arafat or Abbas.
A no-nonsense hawk like Benjamin Netanyahu may be the best Israeli leader at this sensitive time, one who neither bluffs nor talks with forked tongue — rather as Ismail Haniyeh is reputed to be.
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Getting in bed with Hamas is about the same as putting a dress and lipstick on a pig.
Hey, the Huns were great for Europe weren't they?
And where in the Irgun, Stern Gang and Menachem Begin's role did it include blowing up schools, school buses, restaurants, and intentionally shooting infants? Where did these organizations declare publically their support for pushing all of the Muslim population into the sea? Where did these organizations open (the equivalent) of the Madrassas that teach children that their fondest desire is to kill Muslems? Where are the Rabbis of that time who called for pogroms against the population of Muslims to attack, maim, and kill to vent their anger?
Please. Let's refresh our memories.
When enough people use english incorrectly in the same way, it becomes a correct way to use english. That will drive you even more crazy! The language has changed many times like this before.
Amen, right on, you nailed it! Tell it like it is!
Yeah, and soon their national anthem will be "Kumbaya." Understanding human nature is NOT this moron's forte.
These same smug clueless leftist edotorialists who live thousands of miles away behind gated communities consider a splinter a case for the ER.
Sure, question is how much "power" will the Islamists require to be satisfied.
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