Well, yes, you picked out a few quotes favorable to your position.
But you disregarded a few others.
"Destroying Israel remains the official long-term goal of Hamas."
Hard to make peace with someone committed to your destruction. If Hamas were to officially change their long term goal and state that it was the establishment of a Palestinian state within so-and-so borders, then there would be an opportunity for progress. But over all these years, despite much encouragement from outside to do so, they have refused to change their official goal. Which, to me, says that they really ARE committed to that goal, whatever placating words they may utter.
""First of all, let us say that is not good we have to do this," says Ismail Abu Shanad, a senior Hamas political spokesman in Gaza."
Well then, don't. I don't accept from my children "but Dad, he MADE me hit him." I expect adults to be at least as mature as my children. Israel would like nothing better than a total truce -- no Israeli military incursions into Palestininan areas, no terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens or soil. All Hamas (and the other Palestinian terror groups) have to do is say (and follow through on) "we have stoped. Let's talk." And peace negotiations will be underway.
But even in America, the police don't negotiate with people who are actively shooting at them and whose stated goal is to destroy all policemen. |
