The best of times, the worst of times
Haaretz thinks that the past policy of formal cooperation with the Palestinian Authority has perforce moved into one of selective engagement -- at least until Hamas has shown its hand.
During this interregnum in the PA, it is impossible to guess which of the agreements it signed will be honored and which will not. Hamas has announced it will examine each one separately, and determine whether it serves the interests of the Palestinian people. Apparently, Hamas has decided not to honor the agreement according to which the suspected murderers of Rehavam Ze'evi were to remain in Jericho Prison. ...
Once the Hamas government in the making frames its policy, it will be possible to determine the direction in which the Palestinians are headed regarding its relations with Israel and other states. In the meantime, Hamas is sending out mixed messages through various spokesmen. If it wants, and is capable of, restoring quiet to its territories and preventing PFLP activists from burning down the British consulate, the group should do so.
Middle East Online describes efforts by the Russians to persuade Hamas not to reject the "roadmap" to peace.
Kalugin said earlier this week that Moscow would use the talks to press Hamas to change its position on Israel. "We will ask Hamas to change its position -- to recognise Israel, to reject terrorism and to implement all Palestinian agreements with Israel," he said after talks with the moderate Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.
Asked how Hamas would respond to a demand from Moscow to commit itself to non-violence, Haniya said Israel also had to end its "aggressions" against the Palestinian people. "Hamas is not the problem; the problem is the occupation and the continuation of the policy of assassinations," he said. "He who calls for calm should put an end to aggressions."
Commentary
Ha'aretz is in effect asking whether Hamas' accession to power represents a new administration or a revolution. Ordinarily a newly elected government is bound to honor the treaties and agreements entered into by its predecessors. But revolutions can choose to repudiate the ancien regime in its entirety. It discards the law and decides to live wholly outside it. Yet that freedom works both ways. If Hamas can pick and choose which agreements it wishes to honor -- then so can Israel -- and so can any of the parties which entered into agreements with the Palestinian Authority. The entire framework for Middle Eastern peace, if such a thing ever existed, will be put to the match once one of the parties decides to leave it.
If Hamas, has in effect overthrown the Palestinian Authority and nullified its acts, then the crisis gripping the region is not an international crisis but a domestic Palestinian crisis with international implications, not only for Israel but for Egypt and Jordan as well. Whether Russian diplomatic efforts can successfully turn a revolutionary-sounding Hamas into a legitimate successor government remains to be seen. In the end only the Palestinians can decide which of these two roads they want to take.
posted by wretchardthecat at 3/15/2006 06:13:00 PM
8 Comments:
Excellent observation W. As always.
The one point about which these groups have been reliable is in their threats to those whom they name as enemies.
About all other issues they have been unreliable.
Hamas as political party was created to deal with social concerns. Only after its creation did terrorism come into the mix. The "revolution" meme is an interesting one - if it maintains political status, Hamas will once again return to those roots, as a political entity becomes more embroiled in local affairs like roads and sewers. If it fully takes up the "revolution" stance, Hamas will become a military junta with quasi-popular support.
I think we would all prefer the former situation. But if the latter occurs, at least the "solution" the foreign powers have to any problems that arise will be easier.
"We will ask Hamas to change its position -- to recognize Israel, to reject terrorism and to implement all Palestinian agreements with Israel,"
Short of this, the “roadmap” is irrelevant. It is, in short, uncharted terrain.
“Haniya said Israel also had to end its "aggressions" against the Palestinian people.” This is a familiar chicken-egg dilemma and it is fitting that it is a dilemma that the Palestinians were never to win. It’s as if all the “progress” of the accords has been relegated to the memory hole. Ceding Gaza was not an act of good will if Hamas has convinced itself of the lie that they forced the Israelis from the occupied territory.
The hackneyed response is getting old while the cuckold must be gaining a familiar sense of deja vu. Meet the new PA again, it is senile.
Incoming administrations always get to "cherry pick" from the available Law, to choose the ones they will enforce & which to ignore.
In the case of Palistine, on just it's second Government, and first lawful handover of Power. It would be expected for Palistine to "change course".
The stance of Hamas was well known, prior to the Election. The voters of Palistine are responsible people. Niether children nor simpletons, they have chosen a known path to travel.
Russia will attempt to gain influence amongst Arab States and paint itself as the honest broker.
Their machinations in the Region have just begun. After blocking any action by the UN, I still think the Russians and the Iranians will broker a nuclear deal, honestly.
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/video/palestinians-celebrate-911.mov
If hamas calls for fighting the zionist entity, and that armed struggle is their method, then the next parade of armed hamas military men should be cluster bombed
IDF to step up targeted killings
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz instructed the IDF on Thursday to step up targeted killings and anti-terror operations in the West Bank in order to thwart terrorist activities, including retaliatory attacks in response to the IDF's extended raid into Jericho on Tuesday.
Pass the pork rinds.
porker
Just as they should be elsewhere, everywhere.
If armed men choose to parade in the street, other than on May Day, bomb 'em.
We would if we were at War.
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