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Disarmament and Rule of Law in Palestine

(Christian Science Monitor) Haim Malka - Abbas's courtship of Hamas as a political party avoided bloodshed in the near term, but he enhanced the militant organization's legitimacy without diminishing either its arsenal or its armed capabilities. He remains hostage to the whims of Hamas and the threat of its political veto: violence. If Palestinians are ever to achieve a viable independent state, they must first establish the rule of law, which includes a state monopoly on the use of force. Convincing Hamas to disarm should be the last step in this process. Hamas will not begin to contemplate disarmament as long as marauding gangs of Fatah-affiliated gunmen remain unchecked. Ultimately some elements of Hamas, Fatah, and the other factions will resist this new political contract. Those militants who remain outside the system and refuse to recognize the authority of the state should be dealt with through direct force and legal means - apprehended by the security forces and brought to trial to face prosecution. Many Palestinians, fed up with the lawlessness, will support such a confrontation if it is a part of a genuine effort to establish the rule of law. The only viable option for disarming Hamas and transforming it into a real political party, which Abbas publicly advocates, is to demonstrate that Fatah has also accepted the rules of the game. Abbas must first disarm Fatah.
2005-04-27 00:00:00
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