Ted, <To my knowledge, Hamas's stated purpose is the creation of an independent Palestinian state.>
Hamas' stated purpose is to take back "historic Palestine," i.e. all of Israel. They're not going to negotiate with Israel, since that would mean recognizing Israel's right to exist as an independent state. They don't want that, and don't let them fool you into believing otherwise.
Ten, have they been asked to sit at the same table as Israel and refused?
Besides, haven't you ever heard of asking for the moon so you can get a piece of earth. In other words, you ask for Israel and the occupied territories, and you get the occupied territories.
No one ever said negotiating with Hamas would be like mixing it with middle class couples from Beaverton! This ain't going to be easy but its a start.
<If they aim to destroy Israel, I don't think suicide bombings are terribly effective.>
Well, yeah, but then again flying planes into the World Trade Center is not going to make the world more Muslim, either. Neither is amassing weapons of mass murder and using them on your own citizens, not to mention neighboring states.
You are making a key mistake: assuming these guys will listen to reason. They are tempted with power. They are tempted with promises of paradise in exchange for mass murder. How do you reason or negotiate with them?
I have said it before and I will say it again........you give people a house, a job and some hope, and they become much more reasonable very quickly.
ted |
