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Why Accept Hamas' Definition of a Cease-Fire?

[Ha'aretz] Rafael Israeli - Ever since the Muslim world launched its global terror war, small non-state groups have engaged in hostile acts, ensconced within - and protected by - civilian populations, and leaving no means to defend oneself without touching off the world's fury. Hamas speaks of a hudna or a tahdiyeh (temporary lull), which will enable them to resume hostilities once they have beefed up their forces, repositioned themselves, and better booby-trapped the civilian populace. We are dragged behind them, forgetting internationally accepted terminology like cease-fire and armistice. We can reject these concepts and abide strictly by accepted international terms. Let us recall that the American-led coalition in Iraq and Afghanistan has refused any cease-fire, and is even ruling out any contact or negotiation with al-Qaeda or the Taliban until they surrender. We must return to enforcing the set of international concepts that have legal validity and staying power, and we must stop granting legitimacy to a second Palestinian entity in Gaza that will force us to accept two states of Palestine in addition to Jordan. The writer is a professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
2009-02-27 06:00:00
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