The front page of Tuesday’s (4/18/06) New York Times had a headline that was very disturbing: “Suicide Bombing in Israel Kills 9; Hamas Approves.” The point of this Wespeak is not that nine innocent Israelis died yesterday, or that there was an attack on a restaurant with no military significance, or that one of the victims died shielding his children with his own body. To me, the most disturbing element of this story was Hamas’ response to the attack. Say what you want about the fact that the elected representative of the Palestinian people is an organization that is considered by the United States and the European Union to be a terrorist group. But for that elected government to not only to allow, but to approve of an attack carried out by a non-governmental organization, is reprehensible. If Hamas feels that violence against Israeli citizens is a legitimate action, then it should take that action itself, and not stand back and condone it when another group does it for them. It is also stupid. The Palestinian government is weakening its political position by giving legitimacy to military actions carried out by an organization other than itself. I was cautiously hopeful when Hamas was elected to office in January. I thought that perhaps they would now put down their weapons and stop calling for the destruction of Israel. I was even more hopeful when the Israeli elections made it possible for a center-left coalition government. After Monday’s attack and Hamas’ response to it, my hopes seem less likely, and perhaps a little naive.
These and other opinions will be discussed at “Knishes and Kadima,” a discussion hosted by Kol Israel next Wednesday night (4/26) in the Butterfield A lounge from 8-10 p.m. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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