Near East Pundit

A good friend of mine pointed out a Ha'aretz story I missed from a week and a half ago.  It highlights a problem within Palestinian society that somebody from within needs to address.  It still amazes me that the international community calls for Israel to make peace with a splintered Palestinian government that can fire anti-tank rockets and throw grenades at each other. 

Fatah had protested Hamas which led to days of violence between the two. 

The story says "The violence then spread to the parliament building in Gaza City, where security officers and civil servants were protesting. The protesters threw stones at nearby Hamas militiamen, who responded by hitting them with sticks and then by firing guns and anti-tank rockets and lobbing grenades at the protesters, according to an Associated Press journalist at the scene. (bold mine)

The protesters included both security officers (presumably armed) and civil servants.  After throwing stones at armed Hamas militiamen, the Hamas militiamen fired guns at the rockthrowers, launched anti-tank rockets and lobbed grenades at the protesters.

People criticize Israel for their efforts at dispersing crowds, but who ever heard of throwing grenades and launching anti-tank rockets at protesters throwing rocks?  Other than the Palestinian "leadership" that is.

You can't make peace if there's no one at the table

The Washington Post is right to point out the most recent appeal by 135 global leaders who have called for renewed peace talks in Israel is thoughtless.

After all, you cannot make peace with someone who does not want it.

Instead, the Palestinians need to know (if they already don't) that they're on the verge of losing any chance of gaining an independent state through their infighting and refusal to recognize past agreements and renounce violence. 

The story says "Ahmed Aboul Gheit -- who has spent the past several months immersed in a failing effort to restore the broken connections between the Palestinian Authority and its international donors, as well as Israel -- placed the blame exactly where it belongs: on the Palestinian political leadership. "The Palestinian situation is marred by sharp divisions and battling; it is a misery and shameful for any Arab and any Palestinian," the minister told the government newspaper al-Ahram." (bold mine)

Knowing the jihadists have used their own people to further their ends in the past, it's no surprise the Palestinian "leadership" continues to use the Palestinians for the same reasons. 

And once again, the Palestinians and the Israelis will suffer the most as a result while the world will continue to blame America for not doing more.  And the jihadists will continue to use liberating Palestine as an excuse to call for jihad against Israel, America and the West. 

Yes in English, No in Arabic

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice recently met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss amongst other things the Palstinians' recognition of Israel. 

In a move that would make Arafat, "Mr. Yes No" proud, Abbas tells Rice he won't accept any Palestinian coalition government that does not recognize Israel, whereas in an interview with al-Arabiya, he says Hamas, Fatah, PFLP and others do not need to formally recognize Israel.

So what gives? Why the direct contradiction to the U.S.?

Abbas is a pragmatist who wants to end the economic blockade, rid the Palestinians of their political debacle and re-arm with guns that are made in America. 

Both Hamas and Fatah seek Israel's destruction...they just differ in their means to bring it about.

When hating Israel isn't enough

The Gulf Times summarized various Arab newspaper's perspectives on Palestinian civil war between Hamas and Fatah, where the Palestinians have a choice - either support the corrupt government or the inept one, neither of which want to make peace with Israel, neither of which want to let go of the "Right of Return," dooming any future Palestinian state.

"The most painful aspect is that civil war is precisely what Israel wants the most," said the Saudi daily Okaz.

What saddens me the most is the Saudi paper cares more about not giving Israel what they claim Israel wants, versus an actual solution to the internal Palestinian problem. 

Nowhere does the Saudi paper mention paying salaries, fixing the roads, cleaning up the sewage - all basic government services that the Hamas government cannot provide for their own people, let alone form their own state. 

Meanwhile Jordanian King Abdullah said if Hamas and Fatah do not reconcile, they could lose their chance of Palestinian statehood forever.   

Attacks on French police multiply, Foreign Affairs says "it's the economy stupid"

Senior Editor of Foreign Affairs Journal, Stephanie Giry, says the Muslim attacks within Europe do not do not reflect Muslim society and Europeans have nothing to fear.  In spite of the attacks in Spain, England, Holland, and now France (not to mention the attempted attacks on Germany and England) Giry says critics should look at a more "nuanced" view of Islamic society within Europe as a whole. 

She says, "The problem of jihadism is largely distinct from the issue of Muslims' integration into the European mainstream," saying the riots by Muslim youth had more to do with poverty than the desire for a worldwide Islamic state.

Perhaps somebody should tell that to the French police who believe they are fighting their own intifidah with an average of 14 French police injured on the job a day due to "radical Muslims."

In an article titled " Muslims are waging civil war against us, claims police union" it says the number of attacks on French police by Muslims have risen by a third in two years.

Michel Thoomis, the secretary general of the Action Police trade union wrote to France's Interior Minister saying "We are in a state of civil war, orchestrated by radical Islamists. This is not a question of urban violence any more, it is an intifada, with stones and Molotov cocktails. You no longer see two or three youths confronting police, you see whole tower blocks emptying into the streets to set their 'comrades' free when they are arrested."

Many groups from all different faiths, backgrounds and cultures have experienced serious poverty in European society. However, the Muslim population is the only group that consistently demonstrates a propensity towards violence as witnessed by the French police these last few years. 

Fun Shari'a Law Facts

In case anybody wondered what life would be like living under Shari'a law, here's a highlight of fun facts via YNet News:

• Deliberate masturbation (as opposed to involuntary masturbation) during Ramadan makes a fast invalid
• Deliberately keeping food in your mouth during the fast invalidates such a fast (as long as you didn't know the food was there, you're in the clear)
• Gambling is out (unless you're a jockey)
• Drinking water while standing is out
• Meetings with both men and women are out

Any other fun Shari'a law facts you have a question on you can find at the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khameini's website and simply navigate to the right side of the page under "Shar'i Questions/FAQ."  You'll be glad you visited. 

And why exactly doesn't the Arab world have power?

In his article the World is Being Governed without Muslims, Dr. Sedat Laciner argues because the G-8 does not have any Arab countries in it, because no Arab country sits on the UN Security Council as a permanent member, nor the I.M.F. or the World Bank, and finally because the world makes decisions without first consulting Hosni Mubarak or Tayyip Erdogan, this somehow "causes Usame bin Laden or similar illegitimate “leaders” to come to the front."

The normal Arab route consists of avoiding their failed policies through complaining about a lack of wealth, political power, media influence and, of course, the Israel/Palestinian problem. 

Why cannot the Arab/Muslim world decide to quit funding terrorists, quit funding the Salafist and Wahabbi movements, stop allowing terrorists free movement within their borders, and instead do what Lubna Hussain recommends and point the finger at Arab/Muslim society and take responsibility for its lack of inaction? 

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice on the Saudi view that the Middle East's many conflicts stem from the Israeli/Palestinian issue.

The story says "He [Prince Saud al-Faisal] likened that conflict to a disease that weakens the body and makes it more susceptible to other ailments."

He said, "We think it is a core problem that, if settled, would have an effect on all the other core problems," Saud said.

Terrorist leader provides clarity

Even the "moderates" among the Palestinians have said their recognition of Israel's right to exist is based purely upon political calculations.

The eventual goal is to destroy Israel.

According to Abu Ahmed, leader of Al Aqsa Marty's Brigade, the winged arm of Fatah, "There is no change in our position.  Abbas recognizes Israel because of pressure that the Zionists and the Americans are exercising on him.  We understand this is part of his obligations and political calculations." 

What confuses most Americans are headlines like this:
Abbas promises Israel will be recognized
Abbas: National Unity Government Will Recognize Israel and Renounce Violence
Planned unity government will recognize Israel

According to Ahmed, the Palestinian Liberation Organization recognized Israel, not Fatah , and only as a means to one day obtain all of Israel.

He says, "It is the PLO, which is a separate entity, that recognized Israel,and this was a step, a tactical step that had as its goal to bring the resistance and the revolution closer to the lands of Palestine," Abu Ahmed said.

Fatah considers the "Right of Return," the attempt to bring millions of Palestinians into Israel a holy right and they will never accept an agreement if it does not include this as part of the agreement.  Which, incidentally is the reason after Barak offered Arafat everything Arafat claimed he wanted, Arafat threw in the Right of Return at the last minute.  He knew Barak would not go for it.

No Palestinian leader will ever accept Final Status Negotiations unless it means vanquishing the Jewish state, nor will any Israeli Prime Minister accept the Right of Return for the same reason.

Ahmed says, "We demand [any agreement with Israel] be based upon the principles that the great majority of our people support and first of all the right of return to the refugees, which mean that there cannot be any recogntion of the Zionist entity."

That's about as clear as one can get. 

I'm just surprised so many American policymakers were duped into thinking Fatah would actually accept anything less than a one-state solution...a State of Palestine, free of Jews.

In Trouble? Call your opponent a Zionist tool

If you're in "leadership" in Palestine and someone questions your policies...call the other side a tool of the Zionists.

Deflecting attention on failed policies towards political opponents has resonated for decades in the Middle East.  It's a proven tactic that works regardless of the veracity of the claims.

Recent Palestinian violence between Hamas and Fatah left 10 dead and 100 injured.  Two of the dead included teenage boys.

Al Aqsa Martyr's Brigade, the armed wing of Fatah threatened to kill leaders of Hamas as a result of "spilling Palestinian blood."

Hamas responded accordingly..."Hamas slammed the threats. “We are not surprised to see the seditious undercurrent align itself with the Zionist enemy and threaten to kill the Hamas leadership,” Mushir Al Masri, a Hamas spokesman said." (bold mine)

Hamas may not be good at running a government, but no one ever accused them of failing at spin.

 

If the ME can trust em, why can't you?

I highlight this Middle East Times story not because of its newsworthiness, but to point out they refer to the Jerusalem Post and YNet News as credible sources. 

Quite often in the world of those who would only take Al Jazeera as a legitimate news source because everything else is "corporate media," I find it interesting that the Middle East Times not only refers to the Jerusalem Post and YNets News but refers to them as authoritative news sources. 

You be the judge...