Russia has done it again! The ex Soviet Union has left a legacy of placating Israel’s enemies in the past. Why should we show surprise at Russia’s President Vladimir Putin when he makes overtures to Hamas by inviting the Hamas leadership to Russia? This legacy is continuing! Surely, this is the beginning of the legitimization of Hamas! It seems as if some countries are waiting in the shadows for a power within the Quartet to make the first overture. This has occurred and it will result in cracks in the so-called determination of Europe not to recognize Hamas until it lays down its arms and recognizes Israel’s right to exist. Countries in line for recognizing Hamas as the representatives of the Palestinians are (not unexpectedly) Iran, China, Syria and Sudan. Those countries in the wings are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar who are having talks with the Hamas leadership. This tendency of recognition will snow ball and the West will slide into the expediency of accepting Hamas despite the dangers that lurk in this strategy.
As the situation stands, the US, Great Britain and France still express opposition to Hamas and indications are that they will remain steadfast in that. France may disappoint all by finding a reason for negotiating with Hamas in the end as she had done with previous terror groups. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, speaking at the news conference with Putin, said Madrid would support Russia's peace initiatives. This surprising behaviour does not leave Israel with much hope in trusting Russia’s strategy, which appears to be rather devious. While the world accepts Hamas’s electoral victory in the Palestinian election and this in itself grants her the status of being the representatives of the Palestinian People for good or bad. A similar parallel occurred in Germany in 1933 when the German People elected the Nazi Party under Hitler. The Nazis had used the democratic institutions of Germany in order to gain power. Afterwards they abolished these institutions by oppressing the opposition and establishing a one-party state thus destroying democracy. The destruction of the small spark of democracy resulting in Hamas’s electoral victory is a strong possibility. If there are parallels between Nazi Germany and Hamas rule in Palestine, signs of the appeasement of the latter observed by Putin’s attitude towards hosting Hamas is similar to the appeasement of Hitler policy of late PM Neville Chamberlain of Great Britain in 1938 when he signed the Munich Agreement.
Russia seems to overlook the support that Hamas had given to the Moslem Chechen rebels who fought the Russian Army. Putin does not regard Hamas as a terrorist organization. The logic of Vladimir Putin’s attitude towards Hamas is odd and complex. Perhaps he does not see Hamas as a threat to Russian interests. If Russia was responsible in supplying Iran with nuclear expertise then we must see their attitude towards Hamas within that context. Russia’s economy is in the doldrums and perhaps this is their way of trying to gain influence in rogue regimes such as Iran and possibly Hamas ruled Palestine as well. Perhaps this is Russia’s way of trying to regain influence in the Middle East conflict, which serves its interests.
Those who support Hamas fail to realize that Hamas is a fascist group who wishes to destroy Israel. Hamas is a terrorist organization that will destroy the pseudo-democracy that put them into power. The Palestinian people will not benefit from the election of Hamas and its uncompromising attitude towards peace with Israel. Those countries that appease Hamas are doing a disservice towards peace between Israel and the Palestinians. It will only strengthen the resolve of Hamas to continue its terrorist activity against Israel. Hamas has not shown any signs of change in attitude towards recognizing Israel’s right to exist or giving up the “armed struggle” for Palestinian independence, which in simple terms means a Palestinian State that replaces Israel.
The lip service paid towards strengthening President Mahmoud Abbas is a non-starter. He represents nobody. His party has lost the Palestinian Elections and propping him up artificially will not achieve anything apart from further antagonism towards Israel. He did not receive a mandate from the Palestinian people to form the next Government. He had done nothing to curb terror attacks against Israel in the past and he will not disarm Hamas and its ally, Islamic Jihad, in the future.
Perhaps change can come from outside pressure by boycotting the Palestinian Authority the moment Hamas takes over from the interim period of anarchy that is present now. Israel, for her part, could take drastic measures by cutting off electricity and water supplies to Hamas ruled Palestine if Hamas continues to encourage terror against Israel. Why should Israel supply the Hamas regime with essential services when they sponsor Qassam rocket fire into Israel as well as other terrorist acts?
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MAY OUR EYES BEHOLD YOUR RETURN TO ZION
BY: FERN SIDMAN
The Palestinian Authority election is finally over, The election results are in. The votes have been counted and tallied. And the winner is Hamas, one of the world's leading terrorist organizations. The world is "shocked" and "stunned" at this victory. The political analysts are now grappling with the obvious question, "How can the United States backed "Roadmap to Peace" be implemented with such a group at the helm"?
As Jews we are not "surprised" at the outcome of this election. As a matter of fact, we are shocked that the world is shocked. We are not living in perpetual fantasy, convincing ourselves that the Arabs who call themselves Palestinians want peace with the State of Israel. Their words and actions have been crystal clear for many years. They will not renounce violence to achieve their ends. They clearly and unequivocally call for the total annihilation of the Jewish State. They spell it out for us in neon lights, and yet we remain blind to their true ambitions. Between their well funded propaganda campaign, their active recruitment of suicide bombers and their ability to win the hearts of their people, they know they are winning their war for the "liberation of Palestine".
Immediately following their victory in the polls, Hamas leader Mahmoud A-Zahar said, "The armed struggle will continue, and it will cause Israel to make great concessions, and will change the way Egypt and Jordan relate to Israel as well."
And for those that believe that Hamas is committed to the principle of democracy and can work within the mainstream political framework, it is imperative that we take a closer look at the history of Hamas and their track record.
Hamas was founded by Islamic militant extremists in the Gaza Strip in 1988, shortly after the first intifada broke out. The word Hamas is an acronym for the Arabic words for "Islamic Resistance Movement." The organization is devoted chiefly to the obliteration of Israel. Its charter states, "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." The charter further states, "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors."
Hamas is responsible for 24 murders before the Oslo Accords, 156 more before the Oslo War began in September 2000, and at least another 377 since then - a total of at least 557.
The organization's first mass attack was a car bomb that blew up at a bus stop in Afula in April 1994, murdering 8 and wounding 51. Among the most horrific Hamas attacks were the following:
22 people murdered and 56 wounded in a suicide bombing attack on the No. 5 bus on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv in October of 1994.
26 murdered by suicide bomber on a #18 bus near the Jerusalem Central Bus Station in February of 1996.
16 murdered in the Machane Yehuda open market in Jerusalem in a double suicide attack in July of 1997.
23 dead and 115 wounded when a Hamas suicide bomber blew himself up on a No. 2 bus line coming from the Western Wall in Jerusalem in August of 2003.
45 murdered within the space of five days in March 2002: a suicide Hamas terrorist blew himself up in a Haifa resturant, killing 15, and another one did the same in the Park Hotel in Netanya during a Passover Seder, murdering some 30 and wounding 144.
The ten worst Oslo War Hamas attacks, in which a total of 186 were murdered, also included the following:
June 1, 2001 - Dolpinarium in Tel Aviv, 21 murdered - mostly new-immigrant teenagers from the Soviet Union.
August 9, 2001 - Sbarro's Pizzeria in Jerusalem, 15 murdered
December 2, 2001 - Haifa bus, 15 murdered
May 7, 2002 - Rishon Letzion hall, 16 murdered
June 18, 2002 - #32 bus from Gilo, Jerusalem 19 murdered
March 5, 2003 - #37 bus in Haifa, 15 murdered
June 11, 2003 - #14 bus, Jerusalem, 17 murdered
And the list goes on.
With a history that is replete with such actions, how can any clear thinking, rational person actually believe that Hamas is dedicated to democracy. We all know that the United States is dedicated to the belief that they can convince blood thirsty terrorists that peaceful and civilized democratic processes are the way to go. Now that the results are in, the Bush administration has egg on their faces. The Washington Post reported early this week that the U.S. had, relatively secretly, spent $2 million in recent weeks to promote Fatah, the party that would ostensibly carry out and abide by the US backed, "Roadmap to Peace."
So much for attempting to co-opt democracy at work.
And what do the leaders of the Israeli government have to say? Just prior to the PA elections, the Herzilya Conference was held in which Israeli lawmakers set out policy statements. The enitre gamut of leaders, from Olmert to Netanyahu, (who purport to be "right- wingers") all present plans in which further territorial concessions would be made to the Arab enemy. If the truth be told, there is no clear and distinct delineation of "left" and "right" wing parties in Israel anymore. The entire mainstream Israeli political system is handing over a victory to Hamas by stating their willingness to make even further painful compromises and concessions.
Let us face the tragic facts. The Arabs do not want peace with us. How much clearer can they make it. We cannot convince them to make peace through handing them our G-d given land over to them. The mentality of the Arab enemy is different than ours. They interpret concessions and compromises as signs of weakness and they prey upon it and have even more contempt for us. They know that their war for statehood is predicated on relentless murderous attacks of innocent Israeli citizens and Jews worldwide. We reward them for their heinous murders by giving them even more land and greater economic incentives.
What nation in the world rewards violence with gifts and expressions of compromise?
The answer is clear, however we close our eyes and hearts to it. The answer is to turn our hearts to Hashem and to be as dedicated to carrying out the precepts of His holy Torah. The answer is to cry out and cleave to the Almighty G-d of Israel. The answer is to purge the Arab enemy from out midst and to treasure the land that the Lord our G-d gave to us in His compassion and mercy. The answer is to be dedicated and committed to our faith and to have the courage to see the truth and act upon it.
We are living in precarious times. We have choice at this juncture of Jewish history. We can become Jewish lemmings and participate in our own collective suicide by continuing on the path of concessions and more forced evacuations of Jews from their homes or we can raise the gauntlet and put an end to this madness. We have in our ability to be the harbingers of the final redemption. We must only fear Hashem Yisborach and not the nations of the world. We must know that when we deal with our enemies according to the commandments of the Torah that Hashem will be at our side and never leave us. He is our strength, savior, and shield and will deliver our enemies into our hands if we only believe in Him. Only through Jewish strength and power and the willingness to have complete Emunah and Bitachon (faith and trust) in the Almighty G-d of Israel can we emerge victorious.
Let us remember the words of the sweet singer of Israel, King David who said, "The will of those who fear Him He will do; and their cry He will hear, and save them." (Psalm 145)
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