Hamas Surrenders Politically?
The New York Times reports:
Hamas committed today to folding its eight-month government if that would restore the international assistance that was cut off after it won national elections earlier this year.
In a shrewd and dramatic speech, the Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyah, said he would likely resign in the next “two or three weeks� to make way for a national unity government more acceptable to international donors than Hamas, the organization responsible for the deadliest attacks against Israel.
[...]
It was a public acknowledgment that Hamas had failed to run the Palestinian Authority on its own terms in the face of an American and Israeli-led cutoff of funds and aid, and that Mr. Haniya and his government would soon be replaced by a “unity� government of technocrats, currently being negotiated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
But:
At the same time, Mr. Haniyah said that Hamas would remain a key player that would never waver from principle. This raises the question of whether a new government would be any more palatable to donors than the current one.
“We will not compromise,� he told worshippers. “We are going ahead with a government that will not give political compromises.�
[...]
Even with a new government, it seems clear that Hamas intends to remain the driving political force: It holds a majority in the parliament, and its reported candidates to replace Mr. Haniyah all have deep connections to Hamas. Reportedly the choice of Mr. Haniyah’s successor is a major block holding up a final deal on a new government.
No matter how they try to spin it, this is / will be a major defeat for Hamas and organizations like it.
The policy of the International Community is, at least in this regard, working: extremist government will in no way receive help. With Democracy comes responsibility. The Palestinian people failed to take it.
3 Responses to “Hamas Surrenders Politically?”
The Palestinians were tired of corruption and voted for Hamas to send the PLO packing, the trouble is that the other serious baggage of eliminating the state of Israel came with the package. Some thought Hamas would moderate their views, or their views would somehow be overlooked by the world at large, it did not happen and Hamas now has only two choices, recede into the background and keep the anti Israeli ideology or change and accept the idea of the state of Israel. It looks like the former won out, too bad, that keeps the peace process forever on hold.
Michael, all of the palestinian leadership is extremist, including fatah. The only difference is that fatah presents a “moderate” face to the west, but their goal is the same as hamas, which is the annihilation of Israel. It’s simply a matter of different tactics between the two parties in achieving that goal.
As far as the west is concerned, this phony new “moderate” coalition government will provide just enough cover for the European Union to resume funding the palestinian terrorist regime, which is what they have wanted to do all along. Europe, after all, would sell Israel down the river in a heartbeat if they believe it is in their interest. However it would actually be in their interest for the entire free world, including Israel, to be united with one another. But the Euros still believe appeasement will make them safe, despite all evidence to the contrary.
This is a good thing. The Palestinian public sees that talk of annhilating Israel hurts them, and most are probably smart enough to know that it’s never going to happen anyway, just as most Russians knew their country would never “bury us”. If we and Europe and Israel can just be patient and avoid escalation, the desire for a better life will open the Palestinian culture just as it did the Russian and now Chinese.