The Wire
Fri. 27 May 2011 @ 10.44 –
Posted before Shabbat
http://justjournalism.com/the-wire/hamas-in-gaza-%E2%80%98armed-confrontation-will-be-backbone-of-the-resistance%E2%80%99/
Head of Hamas international relations department who was hosted by Guardian to condemn PA as ‘stooges’, demands ‘the return of the Israelis to the countries from which they came.’
Osama Hamdan, the head of Hamas’ international relations department, used a television interview to clarify the Islamist organisation’s intention to use violence against Israel, following its recent reconciliation with Fatah. According to Memri’s translation of his appearance on 4 May, Hamdan argued that the new unity deal meant that ‘all the Palestinian forces’ would now ‘operate within the single framework of confronting the Zionist entity’:
‘[I]t will be an armed confrontation, as well as all other forms of struggle, including civil Intifada against the occupation, against the wall, and against the Judaization of Jerusalem. There is no doubt, however, that the armed confrontation will continue to be the main effort and the backbone of the resistance, until the liberation of Palestine.’
Hamdan also clarified that the ‘liberation of Palestine’ did not mean the end of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank – ‘I think that politically, the two-state solution is over’ – but, rather, the replacement of Israel’s Jewish population with a Palestinian one:
‘When we talk about the liberation of Palestine, we are talking about the notion of Return: the return of the refugees to their homeland, and the return of the Israelis to the countries from which they came.’
Notably, Hamdan’s explanation of how the unity deal meant that both Hamas and Fatah would now be operating in a ‘single framework’ marks a far more conciliatory tone than his comment piece printed in The Guardian on 26 January, which decried the Palestinian Authority as ‘stooges’ who had ‘betrayed the Palestinian cause’ by negotiating with Israel. Just Journalism noted at the time that Hamdan had been given a platform by The Guardian despite his support for suicide bombings, and for the destruction of Israel:
‘We are making the preparations for a confrontation. This is not because we need to be prepared for an Israeli act of aggression – after all, aggression is intrinsic to this entity – but because the final goal of the resistance is to wipe this entity off the face of the Earth. This goal necessitates the development of the capabilities of the resistance, until this entity is wiped out.’
Hamdan’s comments represent only the latest in several recent threats against Israel by leading Hamas figures, including Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar stating that the group would never recognise Israel, de facto Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh arguing that ‘the Zionist project in Palestine must end’, and the recent television appearance by Hamas cleric Yunis Al-Astal, during which he predicted that:
‘In just a few years, all the Zionists and the settlers will realize that their arrival in Palestine was for the purpose of the great massacre, by means of which Allah wants to relieve humanity of their evil.’
Despite Hamas’ insistence that it refuses to recognise Israel and is as committed as ever to armed struggle, as clarified by these recent statements, The Guardian offered the group an in-print opinion piece this week, in which Musa Abumarzuq argued that Israel was the ‘real spoiler for peace’.
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I never fail to be amazed at the fact that despite the continuous flood of evidence that Israel has more enemies than any other nation on Earth, who openly admit, indeed openly declare, that this tiny Jewish nation must be eradicated from the planet, still so many refuse to take the threats seriously.
ReplyDeleteOne would think that anyone with the least intellectual intelligence, nay even a small modicum of common sense, would understand that when people say they want to kill you, there is very good reason to believe they probably mean what they say- when they say:
"We are determined to kill you and take over your country".
Isn't that why America has gone to war in so many parts of the world, so many times, at immense cost of blood and treasure.
When people say they are Hell bent on ending your nation's existence, wisdom dictates that you should, and must, assume that your enemies very likely mean what they say whether it comes from a Hitler or Hamas or Iran.
Those who speak for Hamas say that they will not rest so long as one single Jew lives in Israel. Iran takes the same position.
So what is it that all the pundits, the talking heads, the journalists of the various international media, and all the "intellectuals of the Left" in Israel and every other country in the world, do not understand.
What is so hard to get? Let me repeat those six words- for all the above named parties. What is so hard to get?
Anyone with an IQ over 10 understands what is behind all the venom hurled at Israel.
I will refrain from insulting the reader by stating what we all know. When throughout history have the Jews not been hated, vilified and forever made to serve as the convenient scapegoat of choice?
As if all the problems of the Jews vis a vis the Arabs et al, just began in 1947/48 when the so-called Palestinians were not satisfied with getting control of just half the land- they had to have it all.
I realize more and more that in the final analysis Jews must take off the shades, the blinders, and the rose tinted glasses.
Netanyahu has sounded the shot heard round the world. It is time for Israel to cease wasting time being forever forced to explain itself and its actions. Israel's friends do not require explanations and its enemies have already made plain their own position.
The world only understands strength and language and actions that speak to strength.
The weak of the world are not only pitied but worse still loathed.
Though I voted for the sitting President of the United States believing him to not only be on the side of the Angels but able to call a spade a spade and NOT a perfumed shovel, I now have my very serious doubts.
How does one explain the thinking of a man or woman, who can be exposed to all the facts as we know them and still honestly believe that a person who says he wants to kill you does not mean it and really wants to live in harmony and peace ?
Either such people are just plain stupid or in fact understand the very clear and real dangers with which Israel is surrounded and for reasons best known to them, choose not to see and recognize the dangers because they have their own agenda and ulterior motives.
Either way Israel cannot afford to take a gamble and role the dice again on an American President who does not "get it" or equally unacceptable, just pretends not to "get it".
I gave and gave, financial contributions beyond my personal budget during the last Presidential election believing we could not risk a person like McCain or Palin getting their not to be trusted fingers on the Red Button and our nuclear codes.
How ironic that Israel has never been exposed to more dangers coming from all sides and I helped elect a President who for his own reasons, refuses to state on the records that any talk of "peace making" with people who openly declare they want to push the Jews into the sea, is not only insulting but sheer folly.
Fool me once- shame on you!
Fool me twice- shame on me!
NEVER AGAIN !
David, I agree with all you said, and happy you see Obama for who he is. Israel must protect herself from those who want to destroy her. Arabs know strength, not compromise. Israel must not give them another inch of their land.
ReplyDelete