(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Hamas recently celebrated its 32nd anniversary by reminding everyone of its main goal: the destruction of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state. Ibrahim Yazouri, one of the founders of Hamas, said in a Dec. 15 interview with the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Information Center: "Hamas and its military wing are continuing with their policy until the liberation of Palestine. We are nearing the day of liberation. Within a few years, God willing, the Al-Aqsa Mosque, occupied Jerusalem and all of Palestine will be liberated. Hamas will continue to use all means to liberate Palestine. The big victory is nearing and we need to be more patient." In light of the recent venomous anti-Israel statements by Hamas leaders, why is the UN trying to convince Hamas to participate in Palestinian presidential and parliamentary elections? Calamitously, the international community failed to demand that Hamas renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist, and commit to all agreements signed between the Palestinians and Israel as a prerequisite for participating in the 2006 election. It now seems that the international community is about to repeat that disastrous decision. What is it that they do not understand about "Death to Israel"?
2019-12-27 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive