Hamas Must Stand Down

[bemildred]

Hamas, the staunchly anti-Israel Islamist movement, which has been governing Gaza ever since its bloody showdown last June with the PNA, is looking increasingly like a spent force. It is not that the Palestinian National Authority has scored any meaningful gains in its peace negotiations with Israel since these talks were resumed in Annapolis last November. Nor is it a result of Israeli sanctions against the enclave that has left more than 1.5 million Palestinians without access to basic needs such as gasoline, food and medicine.

Hamas is slowly turning into a liability for all Palestinians; playing into the hands of its enemies and putting its own political interests above those of its besieged people. It is true that the Islamist party and its allies won a majority in the Legislative Council elections two years ago, and accordingly formed a government. And it is no secret that the United States, Israel and Europe, in addition to many Arab countries, colluded to defeat that government even though it was a product of a fair and free elections.

And one could sympathize with claims that the coup that Hamas carried out in the summer of last year came to pre-empt a certain conspiracy by a Fatah leader, Mohammad Dahlan, and the CIA to topple the movement and create a new power system in Gaza Strip. Certainly, the decision by the Arab League to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events of that summer was never carried through. Culpability is not definite and Israeli stalking of the movement’s representatives, including the arrest of most of the Hamas deputies in the Legislature and the killing of key activists, may justify some of its actions.

But today Hamas has lost the moral high ground, and its intransigence to keep control of Gaza at any cost is dangerous, if not suicidal. The chasm between the PNA and the Hamas leadership has widened to reach critical levels. Few could find excuses for the militant movement’s decision to raise the ante with Israel and provoke a series of reactions that could include a complete invasion and reoccupation of Gaza.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=106722&d=13&m=2&y=2008

[sellitman]

1. "We have met the enemy and he is us"

They should read Pogo.

[bemildred]

2. Everybody should read Pogo.

Although Pogo can be hard to find these days.

[Vegasaurus]

3. Here's the truth

right from the Arab news, not some right wing source. It is Hamas which is making its citizens' lives more and more miserable. It is good to see that even others in the neighborhood agree with that.

Hamas is slowly turning into a liability for all Palestinians; playing into the hands of its enemies and putting its own political interests above those of its besieged people.

[bemildred]

4. This is Saudi propaganda.

I thought it was interesting as an expression of the Saudi point of view about Hamas. Whether they are good predicters or not is another matter entirely.

[Vegasaurus]

5. What's propaganda?

Hamas has made the lives of its citizens infinitely more miserable. It has made them political pawns in a dangerous game.

The purpose of a government is to look after the welfare of its citizens. Do you honestly think that Hamas is doing a good job of this? Hamas could improve the lives of its people in a minute, were it to stop the rockets and control its militants, which it absolutely has the ability to do. Instead, the people live in misery and Hamas chooses to continue their "resistance' and miltancy. How stupid.

[bemildred]

7. So, you admit that Hamas is the Palestinian government?

I thought they were a "resistance movement" or something like that. If we are going to admit and proceed on the basis that they are the legitimate Palestinian government, then I would agree with your reasoning. As it is, it seems they are doing what resistance movements do.

[Vegasaurus]

9. I have always called them the government

(a terrorist group as a government, but the government of Gaza nonetheless)

[bemildred]

12. I don't think they are, yet.

But you get points for being consistent.

[azurnoir]

6. The Saudi's say so even

Must mean it is so, the question that remains to asked is did they get a 10% discount on their next purchase of "Gulf Stream" aircraft.

[bemildred]

8. I always enjoy watching people that hate "islamists" agreeing with the Saudi rulers. nt

[pelsar]

10. the saudis are playing politics....

but the so is everybody. They dont like iran and hizballa encrouching on their territory and teaming up with Hamas...... Hamas is the de facto ruler of gaza...... whether one wants to talk to them or not is related.

other than that, the article is correct....the simple proof of course is for the hamas to lay off the kassams for awhile, something they may not be able to do.....

[bemildred]

11. Yes, they are. Enjoy the show. nt

[LeftishBrit]

13. Interesting; though hard to extrapolate from Saudi opinion.

But in this case, whatever their motivations, I think they come to the right conclusion when they say that 'Hamas is slowly turning into a liability for all Palestinians; playing into the hands of its enemies and putting its own political interests above those of its besieged people.'