(New York Times) Editorial - Hamas knowingly targeted Israeli civilian centers in violation of any civilized standard and launched weapons from populated areas in what looks like a deliberate effort to draw Israeli fire on innocents. Political officials of Hamas were crowing about its determination to regroup and attack again. Rocket attacks into Israel by Hamas and other extremist groups must stop, along with other terrorist attacks. So does the smuggling of weapons into Gaza and the production of a new supply of rockets. There will need to be an international donors' conference to rebuild Gaza, but with assurances that Hamas will not divert money for civilian projects into rockets and tunnels. If any agreements come out of Cairo, they must be designed to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and its president, Mahmoud Abbas, by managing whatever funds are donated to Gaza. It may be necessary to have Hamas in Cairo, but the group offers Palestinians nothing except nihilism and endless suffering.
2014-08-07 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive