May 30, 2006
FORCING THE CONTRADICTIONS:
From Israeli jails, Hamas activists press middle way (Joshua Mitnick, 5/31/06, The Christian Science Monitor)
A two-month-old survey taken by Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki on the eve of the inauguration of the Hamas government found that two-thirds of Palestinians support mutual recognition with Israel and a two-state solution. Some 75 percent wanted Hamas to negotiate with Israel."This is their Achilles' heel," says Shmuel Bar, a Middle East export at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center. "Hamas realizes that they weren't elected for their ideology, and most likely such a referendum would pass."
In a democracy when your Achilles heel is that the voters oppose your ideology you have a problem. Posted by Orrin Judd at May 30, 2006 6:03 PM
Psst. The election of Hamas was, in fact, the referendum.
Posted by: Barry Meislin at May 31, 2006 3:00 AMOn corruption.
Posted by: oj at May 31, 2006 7:25 AMSure. That's why there's all those Palestinians out on the streets protesting those missile barrages being fired from Gaza into Israel (on a daily basis) and demanding that Hamas recognize a two-state solution.
(Now that I think of it, it kinda reminds me of all those Palestinians protesting for---and demanding--those very same things before Hamas was elected!)
Posted by: Barry Meislin at May 31, 2006 8:07 AMUntil Israel recognizes the two states the Palestinians ought to keep attacking. We did when we wanted our own state.
Posted by: oj at May 31, 2006 8:14 AMSure. Let's ignore Camp David 2 and Taba in 2000/2001. (Seems to be de rigeur---or at least the fashionable thing to do.)
And let's ignore, among other things, Palestinian demands: at best their insistence on a divided Jerusalem, a return to Abba Eban's "Auschwitz borders," and the right of return. At least Hamas is honest (three cheers!!)
It's really a perfect set up. On the one hand, Israel can't settle things unilaterally. On the other hand, Palestinians aren't going to agree to anything Israel offers. On the third hand, Palestinian demands spell Israel's suicide.
It's an ideal situation, because Israel has been saddled with all the blame. And will continue to do so. At no cost to the Palestinians---only benefit, to which their much-vaunted suffering entitles them.
As the attrition continues....
Posted by: Barry Meislin at May 31, 2006 9:39 AMOf course they can settle things unilaterally, they just lack the will to do so quickly so they're drawing out their own pain to no gain.
Posted by: oj at May 31, 2006 9:45 AMBarry:
No, that was a referendum on Fatah's corruption; their foreign policy was probably preferred to that of Hamas', which is why the referendum is a dilemma for them.
Posted by: Mike Earl at May 31, 2006 11:54 AMSure. That's why they've all been clamoring for a referendum. It's been absolutely deafening.
(What's that you say? They're shy?)
Posted by: Barry Meislin at May 31, 2006 5:17 PM