The noose is tightening around Hamas. Unfortunately, it’s not a physical noose around the terrorists’ necks, but the world is actually reacting, well, like a bunch of terrorists have just been elected. (Thanks to Lair Simon, from whom I lifted half the URLs in this post.)
Ehud Olmert says Israel stands firm: No talks with the PA until Hamas renounces its charter and lays down its arms.
The new German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, stands in full agreement with Israel in refusing to deal with Hamas. Good for her.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark “hopes” that Hamas will change its stance. Sweetie, every time I plunk down my dollar, I hope I’ll win the lottery. Hasn’t happened yet. But best of luck to you. (Moron.)
Israel will not transfer this month’s tax collections to the Hamas-controlled PA. I’m sure Hamas is going to squeal about it; just as I’m sure Mahmoud Abbas is going to hem and haw and tell Israel to send the money back [wink, wink], really, they must help Hamas run the PA [wink, wink].
The Third Way says “No way” to joining a Hamas coalition. The success or failure of the PA is going to be all on Hamas’ heads.
Saudi Arabia could screw things up big-time if they go through with their promised $100 million dollar “donation” to the PA. I wonder if W. will give his “good friends the Saudis” a call over this one.
Holy crap! A writer in the Sydney Morning Herald says it’s Arafat’s fault, not Bush’s, that Hamas was elected. Quick! Get the smelling salts, I feel faint!
The AP has a typical article that simply reeks of sympathy for Hamas’ position–nobody likes them, nobody will fund them, gee, you’d think they were a terrorist organization devoted to the destruction of Israel, or something.
Mahmoud Zahar goes live on CNN to reiterate that Hamas will never recognize Israel, and also manages to show that Gorilla Boy is not the only insane Muslim leader. He uses the Israeli flag to prove that Israel wants a Jewish state from the Nile to the Euphrates. Yep, that’s what the lines and the Star of David mean. Because it’s in the Jewish Bible, you see. Go read the Hamas charter, and you’ll see more Zionist conspiracy theory lunacy from Hamas. However, if Israel were to withdraw from all the territories occupied in ’67, allow the right of return, and dismantle all the settlements, Hamas will graciously allow a long-term hudna.