An Israeli news site last week quoted a Hamas leader telling a Lebanese newspaper that his group plans to declare independence in the Gaza Strip*. The Israeli site posted a follow-up analysis that noted with a certain degree of fascination that if the declaration takes place, it would mark the first time a full-fledge terrorist organization had become a government in charge of a territorial entity. Continue reading »

US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton last week belatedly recognized that the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) of Mahmoud Abbas may not be a viable peace partner for Israel after all.

Too bad her husband already made that realization completely irrelevant by helping to immutably entrench the PLO den of killers as celebrated, peace-seeking international diplomats.

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Again, the international media and many Western government are jumping the gun, and mistaking Hamas’ efforts to secure financial aid as an indication the terror group is suddenly ready to abandon its core positions and live in peaceful coexistence with Israel.

The source of the misguided enthusiasm this time is news of an imminent Palestinian Authority unity government, under the terms of which Hamas appears to be indirectly recognizing the Jewish state.

But it is not peace that is driving this move. Rather it is the crushing economic sanctions the PA has been living under since Hamas took over the government in January. Hamas has seen its popularity plummet after being unable to pay over 150,000 PA employees for the past half year. The group is desperate to secure funds. But certainly not desperate enough to renounce the virulent hatred for and brutal violence against Israel that brought it to power.

Asked by Israel’s Army Radio if Hamas’ implicit acceptance of negotiations with Israel signalled an “end to the conflict,” Hamas government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Tuesday:

“That’s not what we’re saying. We have no problem accepting a state with the 1967 borders.” However, “We are not willing to recognize Israel. This is our country.”

A day earlier, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri told Ha’aretz:

“We would like to have the embargo lifted, but we will not surrender to external dictates and we will not agree to sacrifice the interests and rights of the Palestinian people.”

The left-wing Israeli newspaper also noted that the draft unity government proposal also provides for Hamas to reject any previous agreements between Israel and the PA that it feels do not “serve Palestinian interests.” And while it does call for a halt to acts of terror inside sovereign Israel, the deal gives a green light for continued violence against Jews living in Judea and Samaria.

Unfortunately, the international community, and in particular the mainstream media, continue to see only what they want to see, rather than listening to what Hamas has to say or actually reading the documents that are purportedly forming the base of future peace and stability.

A newly-formed fully-Hamas militia will soon be integrated into the official Palestinian Authority security forces.

These new “policemen” are full-fledged terrorists, members of an organization recognized the world over as a terrorist entity.

It is worth noting that Israel’s “moderate peace partner” PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas has no problem with this. But that is because Abbas does not see the Hamas killers of Jewish men, women and children as terrorists.

Can any other nation fathom having to live with this kind of neighbors?