Andrew Sullivan over at his blog on The Atlantic quotes a piece by Jeffrey Goldberg (of the same magazine) on why “Hamas will never be a partner for peace.” The details of Goldberg’s argument are irrelevant. It is just a tired variation on a tired theme. Every time I read silly articles like that, steam comes out of my ears. So I decided to email Andrew with my complaints. [Most of] the text of the email follows.
The problem with so many “pundits” who comment about the Israel/Palestine conflict is they play on the short memory and/or ignorance of their audiences. When I moved to Israel in 1983, it was illegal, I repeat against the law, to talk to the PLO or any of its members. Abie Nathan, a peace activist, was thrown in jail for publicly talking to Yassir Arafat. Ezer Weizmann, an Israeli war hero and Likudnik who turned “leftwards” on the Israeli political map, had to resign his post in the cabinet when word leaked out he had a secret meeting with the man. Ehud Olmert and other Likud “princes” were foaming at the mouth on the topic, calling for Ezer’s head. The argument was the same: the PLO is a terrorist organization whose charter demands the destruction of Israel and they will never, ever change. The PLO, it was argued, will never be a partner for peace. In fact, Israel was so adamant about not talking to the PLO, that it helped create Hamas. Don’t believe me? Read this article from the Wall Street Journal.
Fast forward 15 years later and none other than Bibi Netanyahu in his first, disastrous stint as Prime Minister was kissing and hugging Arafat and calling Arafat his buddy. Now it is an orthodoxy of Israelis and their rightist American friends that Fatah – good, Hamas – bad. Utter nonsense! You negotiate with your enemy, period. And what’s so good about Fatah? It is a corrupt organization whose leadership pockets international aid and steps on the Palestinian people. The only exceptional Fatah leader and perhaps the only man who can move the situation out of the current mess on the Palestinian side is Marwan Barghouti who is rotting in an Israeli jail (another “brilliant” Israeli move). Hamas may commit war crimes against Israelis, but on the Palestinian side it actually helps those in need, which helps explain its popularity vis-a-vis Fatah. Of course Israel never seems to learn from its past stupidities. When the heads of Hamas Abdel Aziz Rantisi and Ahmed Yassin hinted that they would be willing to negotiate long term cease fires with Israel, Israel assassinated them [see my commentary here].
So please, spare us the lectures on why “Hamas will never be a partner.”
Tags: Propaganda