Hamas not fit for government

[King_David]

HAMAS cannot be surprised by the swiftness or intensity of the Israeli revenge attacks on Gaza that followed the discovery of the bodies of three teenage Jewish seminary students who were abducted and executed near Hebron. Evidence of the Palestinian terrorist group’s involvement is overwhelming. Hamas leader Khaled Meshal led the cheer squad that extolled their abductors’ actions. This should lead to an urgent rethink in Western capitals among those who blithely accepted Hamas’s participation in the Palestinian unity government set up by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas’s longstanding commitment to terrorism and the destruction of Israel is well documented. But this killing of innocent teenagers by two militants known to Israeli security authorities has put it beyond the pale of any sort of legitimacy. In April, Mr Abbas’ s Fatah movement struck a reconciliation deal with Hamas that led to the unity government. The terrorist organisation was allocated four cabinet posts, causing apprehension about a possible suspension of aid money from the EU and US on which the Palestinian Authority survives. US aid to the PA amounts to $500 million a year. But US law prohibits the provision of aid to any government of which Hamas, as a proscribed terrorist organisation, is a part. To get around this, the Hamas cabinet posts were filled by technocrats. The Obama administration was satisfied and aid continued to flow.


http://m.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/editorials/hamas-not-fit-for-government/story-e6frg71x-1226974265367

[King_David]

1. Conclusion :

While he has an understandable political imperative to want Hamas inside the tent, Mr Abbas has no alternative but to reconsider his deal with Mr Meshal. There should be no place in any government, certainly not one seeking a peace deal with Israel, for those prepared to carry out such atrocities. Hamas has put itself beyond the bounds of civilised behaviour.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

2. Tell us all about Irgun, dave.