Hamas -- in its own words

Posted by Bible Probe on March 02, 2006 at 07:38:21:

Hamas -- in its own words
Wednesday, March 1, 2006

by Gary Bauer, co-chair, Stand for Israel

A few days ago the Washington Post did an exclusive interview with Hamas’ new prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh. Portions of the interview were run in the editorial section of the influential newspaper under a headline with this quote: “We Do Not Wish to Throw Them [the Jews] Into the Sea.” I guess the Washington Post thought this was a real breakthrough -- a leader of Hamas stating that its goal wasn’t the death of every Israeli. In fact, within a day Hamas issued a clarification saying it still didn’t recognize Israel’s right to exist!

The Washington Post interview with Prime Minister Haniyeh has nothing in it to encourage anyone about the chances of peace and security for Israel. He made it clear that, as a starting point, Hamas wants Israel to withdraw to its 1967 borders, release all Palestinian prisoners and recognize the “right” of Palestinians to “return to Israel.” He lashed out at Israel for making Jerusalem “totally Jewish” and insisted the city must be the capital of a new Palestinian State.

In short, every demand Hamas is making represents a threat to Israel’s very existence. Most military strategists believe that if Israel withdrew to the 1967 lines the country would be indefensible in the era of modern warfare, where missiles and rockets could reach every inch of Israeli territory. Giving Palestinians a right to immigrate into Israel means that the Jews would rapidly be submerged by a demographic tsunami and end up a minority in their own country. The two states living side by side would both be Arab.

Release all prisoners? What Israeli government could survive if it permitted murderers and terrorists responsible for hundreds of Israeli deaths to walk out of jail? Likewise, giving up Jerusalem and Jewish holy sites like the Western Wall is unthinkable.

Hamas can moderate its rhetoric but “the devil is in the details.” And the details make it clear that these terrorists will not be satisfied by any outcome other than the destruction of Israel. The U.S. government should not give one dollar of our tax money to the Palestinian Authority until Hamas is no longer in power.

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