The Ongoing War against Reality

[barb162]

June 28, 2006
The Ongoing War against Reality

By Henryk M. Broder

Many are treating the apparent recognition of Israel by Hamas as a sign of hope. It's not. Indeed, the Palestinians have no such intention -- and have left Israel with only military options.

snip
One of the basic rules in any democracy is that a new government accepts the treaties made by the old. Germany's Christian Democrats, for example, didn't annul the agreements struck by Social Democrat Chancellor Willy Brandt with East Bloc countries in the 1960s even if, when in opposition, they did everything in their power to torpedo the policy.

For Hamas, however, such rules don't seem to apply. The "prisoners' document" is a paper that is supposed to re-establish and solidify the "national unity" of the Palestinians. Inferring therein a recognition of Israel -- no matter how indirect or implicit it may be -- merely shows a tendency toward self-delusion. Nobody has yet seen the entire paper, but those bits that have been released are just as incoherent as they are explicit. And everything is discussed. Indeed, the only thing that doesn't appear is any mention of a recognition of Israel -- neither in pre nor in post 1967 borders. Only one conclusion can be drawn: Even after 40 years of occupation, the Palestinians have still not accepted reality and still dream of a return to the way things used to be.

snip
News about the new confrontation on the border between Gaza and Israel has largely displaced reports of the looming "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza. It's also important to find out how a government that can't even provide for its own people is getting the means to assemble, clothe and arm a new 3,000 man force. And who is arming and paying the salaries of these masked, hyper-agile young men who are storming the streets wielding bazookas? Is that what a "humanitarian catastrophe" looks like?

Hamas, though a problem for Israel, is a catastrophe for the Palestinians. It's a difference that no document can set aside.

http://service.spiegel.de/cache/international/0,1518,424152,00.html

[Jim Sagle]

1. I thought I/P threads usually attracted more traffice than this.

Oh wait - this is a PRO-Israel thread.

Never mind.

[barb162]

4. It's attracting about as much traffic as my BBC thread in which

the "document" agreed on by the Palestinians shows no recognition of Israel's right to exist.
:hi:

[kalimera]

2. Hamas

Hamas is the worst thing that's ever happened to Palestinian national aspirations.

[barb162]

3. Interesting point; history may prove you correct

(welcome to DU)

[kalimera]

5. Thanks

It's most disturbing to see the tone regarding Israel/Palestine. Pro-israelis are forced to defend themselves much as Jews throughout the ages have. Israel is strong, Masha'allah, and Jews can and are willing and motivated to defend themselves. I believe that's what disturbs some folks here the most. I've always been a proponent of the two state solution, as originally invisioned in the partition plan.

Just imagine the propserity in the region if this had been allowed to happen.