By Dan Lenard
Buffalo, NY – The recent elections in the West Bank and Gaza brought the Radical Islamist organization, The Hamas to power in their quasi-state. The media seemed shocked by this outcome, that the Arabs, given a choice, would pick a radical Islamist group to govern them. Those who were paying attention in the West, knew the outcome months before. Now the West is looking to the Hamas to do the right thing and make peace with Israel. I'm not so positive.
This past weekend I had the opportunity to see the Jewish Reparatory Theater and Irish Classical Theater's joint production of "Good" by A.P. Taylor. "Good" shows how people can delude themselves into believing that they are making good moral choices that are perceived as for the well being of all. Except that the main character in "Good" joins the Nazi Party in 1933 and proceeds to help plan the Holocaust.
The Nazi's, as a political party were almost embarrassed to publicly admit what it was they intended to do, although, Hitler made no qualms about it in "Mein Kampf." Only Winston Churchill paid attention, and his warnings fell on deaf ears. The intentions of the Hamas, on the other hand, are in stone and are as clear as day. According to my good friend, columnist Irwin Graulich, "The Hamas makes the Nazi's look like Boy Scouts."
They've murdered babies in their carriages, teenagers in pizza parlors and discoteques diners at caf s and people celebrating Passover. Along with this murderous rampage they have sunk to the depths of practicing child sacrifice, using their youth as human bombs. This is not armed struggle. It is murder. They have created a culture that worships death. At least the Hamas is honest. They state in their charter and have continued to make public statements since the election, that their intention is to destroy Israel, kill Jews and Christians and establish an Islamic regime. No fear mongering here, go read the statements!
I keep hearing that this was a democratic election and that we must allow the Arabs their own self-determination. Elections are only part of a democratic society. Democracy requires free institutions and the ability to peacefully change leadership. Democracy calls for choices. What were the voters' choices in this election? The Mafia like Fatah, or the Genocidal Hamas? The media has reported that the Arabs of Judea, Samaria and Gaza voted for Hamas to end corruption. The fact that the Arabs voted for option "b," shows they are willing to carry on the struggle to force the Jews into the sea. The Arabs have concluded from Israel's withdrawal from Gaza that violence, not negotiations, is effective in their ongoing effort to weaken and eventually destroy Israel. At least now Israel knows who it's dealing with. The political double speak and fraud of the late Yassir Arafat and his successor Mamoud Abbas was growing tiresome. So can Hamas end Arafat's and Abbas' legacy of corruption and social ills? Can they deliver on these promises if they are at war with Israel?
The big question facing Israel and the West is; In accordance to the "Roadmap" peace plan put forth by the US, UN, THE EU and Russia, do we financially support this radical Islamist terrorist organization that is a distinct sister organization to al Queda and is directly supported by Iran? If President Bush's State of the Union Address last week is any indication, the Administration is going to be making this huge mistake. Telling The Hamas to change its ways is, in essence, de-facto negotiation with terrorists. It would seem that the President and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice have joined the ranks of misguided idealists like former President's Carter and Clinton and special envoy Dennis Ross.
Anyone who thinks that Hamas can be tamed, renounce violence, join the world community and live peacefully beside Israel, has deluded them self. Just as subject of "Good" deluded himself that he was working with people he thought were bringing positive change.
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