The United States insists that Hamas meet strict preconditions before it can take part in negotiations: recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by agreements previously signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, of which Hamas is not a member. These demands are unworkable. Why should Hamas or any Palestinian accept Israel’s political demands, like recognition, when Israel refuses to recognize basic Palestinian demands like the right of return for refugees?This is inferior-quality Israel-bashing. The side with the "unworkable" prospects for renouncing violence despite getting the worst of it isn't the less violent one. If Israel is the source of the violence, then it doesn't have to give back any territory, does it? It can just call off the violence and there will be peace. (h/t: EOZ)
As for violence, Hamas has inflicted a fraction of the harm on Israeli civilians that Israel inflicts on Palestinian civilians. If violence disqualifies Hamas, surely much greater violence should disqualify the Israelis?
Sunday, August 29, 2010
From Ali Abunimah's NY Times (!) editorial
All the Electronic Intifadah that's fit to print?
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