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U.S. Missed an Opportunity to Push for Reform of Hamas

(Times of Israel) David Horovitz - Mere hours after PA President Mahmoud Abbas swore in a government backed by the Islamic extremist Hamas group, the U.S. State Department declared that it would work with the new government because it "does not include members affiliated with Hamas," although the ministers were all approved by Hamas. Rather than rushing to embrace a Palestinian government in which an unreformed Hamas is a central component, what was to stop the U.S. conditioning its acceptance on a reform of Hamas? What was to stop Washington saying that it would be happy to work with Abbas' new government, the moment its Hamas backers recognized Israel, accepted previous agreements and renounced terrorism? The peace process has collapsed and Israel is getting a disproportionate amount of the blame. Hamas, committed to the obliteration of Israel, is now part of an internationally recognized Palestinian government. And the P5+1 nations, led by the U.S., are working toward a deal that will enshrine Iran's uranium enrichment capabilities. Israel may not be a perfect ally, but we deserve better than this.
2014-06-05 00:00:00
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