In “The Mideast Core” The editors of the Washington Post argue
Ms. Rice should also discourage Israel from intensifying the ongoing conflict with Hamas-ruled Gaza by shutting off its electricity and fuel supplies. It’s hardly possible that Mr. Olmert will be able to negotiate peace with one set of Palestinians while waging war against another. Instead, Israel should be open to striking a cease-fire with Hamas and opening peace talks with Syria.
The logic here is, in a word, rotten. At the beginning of the editorial the editors were joyfully proclaiming “serious” talks between PM Olmert and President Abbas, then they show exactly how “serious” they truly are. A country’s first priority is to defend its citizens. If “highly inaccurate” Qassams are continually fired into Israeli territory, Israel ought to be defending itself regardless of who it’s negotiating peace with. After all wouldn’t it be a measure of the seriousness of the peace if Abbas would say, “We understand why you are doing this you must defend your people.” That, of course, is the rub. The Post knows how unserious these talks are. They aren’t about peace but about what Israel can do for the Palestinians – and get nothing in return. And they know that the moderate Abbas will never countenance Israel defending itself – even against Hamas who was throwing Fatah people off tall buildings a few months ago. But if Abbas can’t accept the how serious can the peace be? If the Post were serious about peace, it would be encouraging a real Palestinian (and Arab) change of heart. Instead, it just continually asks for Israel to do more and more with ever lessening (positive) returns.
Crossposted on Soccer Dad.
israel
peace process
Of course, this is why the whole concept of the negotiations is idiotic. At a negotiation, both sides are interested in obtaining something and willing to give up something in return. That has never been the case in the Middle East “Peace” talks. The motivations there are primarily from the Americans, trying to make the Arabs “like” us, and the Israelis trying to placate the Americans. The so-called Palestinians have nothing they are really interested in, but will happily take whatever the Quartet can pressure Israel into giving up, knowing that nothing will be expected in return.
I hear Fatah and Hamas settle their differences with arm wrestling.