PrintMarch 18, 2007
Hamas and the Palestinian people
Is it possible to nourish the body but not the person? Eyes, but not the organs of vision? Ears, but not the organs of hearing? Feet and hands, but not the limbs?
It obviously isn't, because those are just different words describing the same thing.
But go tell that to the European and Israeli politicians - who, even before the new Palestinian "unity government" was sworn in, undertook supporting Palestinian people while not supporting Hamas.
To judge by the reports, at least the Brits
"We will also continue supporting the Palestinian people, including through continued funding of the Temporary International Mechanism."
and the Israelis
"With all the desire we all have to assist the Palestinian people, this new government does not stand for any of the international principles that the international community itself defined,"
see - or pretend to see - the difference between the Palestinian people and Hamas.
But is there any? Shouldn't the election of the Hamas by the Palestinian people teach us something about the Palestinian people? About their priorities? Their hopes? Their dreams? Their aspirations?
It would teach us that all those can be summed up in three words - "destruction of Israel."
It would teach us that Hamas was elected because the majority of the Palestinian people love Hamas, are for Hamas, are of Hamas, are Hamas.
Telling the difference between Hamas and the Palestinian people is like telling the difference between an eye and an organ of vision.
A normal person cannot see the difference where there is none.
For that, we need politicians.
