(Times of Israel) Ken Stein - Anyone who believes that Hamas' current fundamental beliefs are flexible enough to recognize Israel or that the organization will ultimately give up arms as a long-term political concession is simply naive. As it has in the past, Hamas may accept a tahdi'a or calming down of tensions, or even a temporary truce or hudna, but for it to accept Israel as a reality is totally contrary to its ideological outlook. Discussions about cease-fires and who broke any number of them masks Hamas' stated intentions. "Removing occupation" for Hamas currently means Israel's destruction, not merely withdrawal from Gaza or the West Bank or Jerusalem. Just as al-Qaeda seeks the total destruction of Western democracies, Hamas seeks Israel's total demise. Since its inception in 1988, Hamas has been crystal clear about its opposition to Zionism and Israel. It opposes any kind of negotiations or agreements that recognize Israel's reality. The writer is Professor of Contemporary Middle Eastern History and Political Science at Emory University.
2014-08-06 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive