Today in the Washington Post they published an op-ed by Mahmoud al-Zahar, foreign minister of Hamas in which he applauds Jimmy Carter's decision to meet with the group during his middle-east trip.
- JNEREBEL's diary :: ::
Mr. al-Zahar defends the recent attack on Israeli citizens at the Nahal Oz fuel depot as he sees the current situation through the prism of "fighting a total war" where such barbaric attacks are justified due to Israeli mobilization.
He blames the US for the coup d'etat Hamas initiated in Gaza and congratulates Jimmy Carter's vision of peace via talks without pre-conditions. Except for the pre-conditions he places on Israel, that is....
A "peace process" with Palestinians cannot take even its first tiny step until Israel first withdraws to the borders of 1967; dismantles all settlements; removes all soldiers from Gaza and the West Bank; repudiates its illegal annexation of Jerusalem; releases all prisoners; and ends its blockade of our international borders, our coastline and our airspace permanently. This would provide the starting point for just negotiations and would lay the groundwork for the return of millions of refugees. Given what we have lost, it is the only basis by which we can start to be whole again.
If one believes in talks without pre-conditions shouldn't it be applied to both sides? It seems not to be the case when Hamas is involved, as in their view pre-conditions apply only to Israel and anyone seeking a renunciation of violence, willingness to honor past agreements, and a recognition of the Israeli state's right to exist simply need not bother to show for discussions.
As Hamas has previously stated, they indeed did not seek to become ministers but rather martyrs and ignoring his view that
Our fight to redress the material crimes of 1948 is scarcely begun
would be unwise for those living in the Jewish state.
Travis
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