[Jerusalem Post] Editorial - The Israeli government is coming under a degree of pressure to acknowledge Hamas' growing weight and power and engage with it. But interaction now with an unreformed Hamas represents capitulation to terrorism, and can only further reduce any small likelihood of the Islamic group ever opting for reform. Meanwhile, it would discredit and further weaken the faint voices of genuine Palestinian moderation. The way forward requires Olmert and Abbas to reaffirm a partnership whose earliest concrete stages must involve concerted PA action to publicly oppose and practically counter acts of terrorism - including rocket attacks, bombings and kidnappings such as the one to which IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit fell victim. Rather than exulting in the belief that, sooner or later, directly or via a third party, Israel will come crawling to its door, imploring it to release Shalit in an exchange deal, Hamas needs to be made to feel that Shalit is a liability who must be let go.
2007-08-29 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive