(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Many foreign journalists who came to cover the war in Gaza were under the false impression that it was all about improving the living conditions of the Palestinians by opening border crossings and building an airport and seaport. These journalists really believed that once the demands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad are accepted, this would pave the way for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet they failed to take into consideration the context of the conflict. Hamas and Islamic Jihad stated both before and after the war that their real goal is to "liberate all Palestine." It is obvious that Hamas and Islamic Jihad are now more determined than ever to pursue their fight to eliminate Israel. The Egypt-brokered cease-fire may achieve some calm for the foreseeable future. But Hamas and its allies will continue to raise new generations of Palestinians on glorification of terrorism and jihad. Only days before the war, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said: "We will continue to educate and call for the liberation of all Palestine and the establishment of a Palestinian state on all the land of Palestine." What Hamas and its allies are actually saying is, "Give us open borders and an airport and seaport so we can use them to prepare for the next war against Israel."
2014-08-29 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive