Dealing with Hamas... PLO v2.0?
Rice starts Mideast trip in Egypt
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who will meet Rice on Wednesday, has argued that the and should give Hamas more time to adapt its political positions.
Unlike Washington and the Israelis, Mubarak also says that Hamas could be the organization best able to reach a peace settlement with the Jewish state.
Egypt, which has a good working relationship with Hamas, also opposes threats to cut off financial support for the Palestinian Authority, saying this would push Palestinians toward what Mubarak called "extremism".
Under this scary look is a human being that is capable of much more than this. Instead of being afraid, lashing out, and encaging him why not genuinely try to win him over. Now try looking at the picture again.
This is how I feel about Hamas’s win. It is imperative that we find opportunity in everything. Withdrawal will serve nothing. A couple of weeks ago I put out this teaser of a project I have been working on almost since Hamas’s win. In collaboration with a few other parties I am going to be setting up a series of interviews with various Hamas members. I am going to combine those interviews with all the info I can dig up on the MP (Bio, stance,…ect.) We are going to podcast the interviews live.
As with the Chomsky interview I am going to give time to the readers to post questions they would like answered by the MP we interview in the comments section of this site.
We don’t know Hamas, few can even name more than a handful of members. I think it is crucial that we try to. I also think it is important that we try a different approach than the one used towards the PLO in the early nineties, (cutting off the money and movement of all the Palestinians. I say this under the argument that unemployment is already almost 80% and more impoverishment would only lead to a further gravitation to ideology. Also it didnt work the first time.) which is exactly what is going on now.
I know what they want to do to me. I know what they want to do to Israel. What is there to ask?
The Arab Palestinians WANTED this to happen. They willingly voted for a party that wants war with Israel. Why so many are still surprised that there are people who do not want to fund their plan, is beyond me. (Comment this)
By the way, Israel has not been very helpful. They are pursuing a policy of confrontation, probably because of upcoming elections and the new leader feeling a need to show some muscle. Israel must stick by the borders before 67, the Oslo agreements and the roadplan for peace, and the wall must be torn down. Both parts must stretch out their hands to the other one. (Comment this)
How do you understand destruction of Israel?
How could you diversify your funds in such a way that you can formulate policies for the benefit of Palestinians?
Are you ready to accept the Oslo Agreements and the roadplan for peace? (Comment this)
No.
I don't see why Israel would have to stick by the border before 67. The Arabs constantly attacked Israel and tried to destroy it. They should not be given free tries. When you attack and lose, you lose something. If you always get it back, you are only trained to attack again, since you have nothing to lose.
The Arab Palestinians can have a state, but it won't be the size it would have been if they had accepted peace in 1967.
Israel does follow the Oslo agreements. It was Arafat who broke the treaty and it is Hamas who reject it in total. (I like Hamas' honesty, btw.)
And the fence will stay. Bringing it down won't bring peace, only pieces. There were terror attacks before the fence, fewer since the fence and that's it. The Arabs had a choice. They decided to continue terrorism. So they got a fence.
Israel stretched her hands out often enough. It's over. The Arabs voted for war again. They shall have it.
I personally prefer the fence and isolation strategy over war though. I hope Olmert continues with it.
Israel has never gained anything from stretching her hands out. It's ridiculous to argue that she must do it again. It's over. (Comment this)
"We are a nation that drinks blood, and we know that there is no blood better than the blood of Jews. We will not leave you alone until we have quenched our thirst with your blood, and our children's thirst with your blood."
Is Hamas aware how much cholesterol and saturated fats is found in Jewish blood?
Talk about a self-destructive policy! (Comment this)
I think that only once would I like to hear a liberal or left-wing proposal for ending the conflict that doesn't include the deaths of several million Jews at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists or Arab nationalists.
That would be nice.
Hamas want to drink the blood of Jews and Sweden gives them money. And the world is moving towards "giving them a chance".
Why does it always have to be like this? (Comment this)
Impressive ya Karim.
(Comment this)
Some countries, like Sweden and Egypt, are trying to win him over. But what if the Islamic fundamentalists simply take the money and continue attacking Jews, like they do EVERY TIME?
My question is, is your theory that they can be won over falsifiable? Is there a point when we know that the answer is no? What evidence would convince you? (Comment this)
Excellent idea. If you get a chance, ask them this:
Would Hamas support the idea of integrating all peoples into one state ("one state solution"), each human treated fairly and with respect by both sides; an inclusive Knesset with Hamas and Likud members sitting and debating side by side; Jewish and Arab neighbors living on the same block?
There is no "destroy Israel" option, and we'll assume that the Right of Return would be addressed in a way agreeable to both sides. In other words, the only difference would be living side by side with Israelis like days of old, or having a strict border separating the two peoples (i.e. "two state solution"). (Comment this)
That's what many Jews are afraid of.
It's not fun if you are a non-Arab minority. (Comment this)
I salute your positive attitude and your ability to move from words to action. You inspire me.
If you do get the chance to interview them, I'd like to ask them something like this:
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What are the priorities that will govern Hamas's agenda over the next little while as they are in power (given the situation of worldwide pressure on them to change rhetoric) and how much of these priorities they believe would be achievable. (Comment this)
Hamas is a determined & instransigent organization. They did not show much flexibility with the PA on the cease fire with Israel, they didn't give in to pressure from Egypt nor from others if i remember correctly, they have gone about their business as though its a personal vendetta with the Israelis, attacked Israel on a tit for tat basis when it harmed palestinian interests the most without hesitation. Will this organization change its colours after reaching a position they longed to dethrone the PA from for so long? Will they be a second PLO that changed is charter? Both answers are no in my opinion. They were voted for sticking to one colour, the Intransigent mode, & not giving in to pressure. To soften up would give a message of weakness which they dont want to display at any cost.
They learned, from their perspective, what happens when a group changes its colours, in their view the PLO was wrong to alter their charter trying to accomodate new international variables that hit the scene. Hamas will remain so for a long while i think,in a deadlock with Israel, unless new incidents change everything & proves to them how essential it is to change their stance.
As for Israel, they have all the time in the world to sit & think, even calculate the odds.other points to look at
Is Hamas willing for peace? Nope.
Is Hamas capable of Peace? Yes, it is a matter of will. Rabin was capable of peace long before Sharon entered the scene but was killed before he could do much.
Another question one should look at, are Palestinians ready & willing for peace?? They afterall voted for a hardline group opposed to the PA which was trying to make peace, what would make them change this minute?
Are there any forces , either external or internal, to make Palestinians change their stance 180 degrees to accept peace & to work with Israelis on making it a success? Maybe the answer to this question is locked in some inexplicable psyche waiting to be deciphered, maybe. (Comment this)
There is an interview with the author on the on-line edition site
http://www.newyorker.com/online/content/articles/060227on_onlineonly01
which is also worth reading. (Comment this)
Can it be changed? Not by letting the Wolves run free and by feeding and pampering them.
Wolves have to be killed or caged.
Papa Ray
West Texas
USA (Comment this)
1. Do you believe that Arabs living in Israel have a better understanding of what it was like for Jews to live under non-Jewish rule and can thus better relate to why Jews wanted and defend their own state?
2. Do you find that the situation of Jews in Arab countries before and after the founding of the state of Israel was an acceptable such and would you implement a similar system in a united Palestine under Arab rule if it came about? (Comment this)