Here’s how to know you’re in trouble: When Hamas sounds more reasonable than you do.
I am no fan of Hamas. I have a number of reasons for my lack of affection, not least the fact that on more than one occasion, one of their bombers could very easily have killed me. Then there’s the fact that the organization was founded out of a desire to rid the world of my home (let’s be frank), a goal premised in an ideology based in the sort of religious fanaticism that I find deeply disturbing no matter who’s expressing it (or what the religion).
But when faced with the fact that the United Nation’s Fact Finding Mission on the Conflict in Gaza (aka: the Goldstone Report) called on Hamas to investigate their behavior in last winter’s war, Khaled Meshal, Hamas’s political leader, said the other day that “if the report or any other side has any reservations on Hamas’ actions, we are ready to explain them and we will form an honest and neutral investigative committee in Gaza to give Goldstone and its committee and the international community the facts.”
Huh. Compare this to the response of Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu: “The Goldstone report is a kangaroo court against Israel, whose consequences harm the struggle of democratic countries against terror.”
Setting aside my own opinion on the war and Israel’s behavior in it — indeed, setting aside my own opinions of the occupation — there is a very basic question to be asked. Is it possible that, in the course of a massive incursion into someone else’s territory, your army and its soldiers behaved as something less than angels? Even setting aside the question of intent — isn’t it just possible that Israel did something wrong?
I would wager that Meshal is a smart guy, and can see exactly the impression Israel is making on the world stage right now. Having been told by Justice Richard Goldstone, a highly respected member of the international legal community (and a lifelong Zionist, to boot), that the Israel Defense Forces did some pretty unethical stuff in the course of the war, Israel has doubled-down, dug in its heels, and pouted. Having conceded that some sort of inquiry might be necessary — to make the world shut up already — Netanyahu has promised the military that no officers or soldiers will be called on to testify.
The entire country looks more like a thwarted child than a responsible member of the international community. Meshal has very little to lose by saying “Hey, look, we’ll look into it” — and he probably knows that he has a whole lot to gain.
But here’s the deal: Like them or not, Hamas is Israel’s enemy — by which I mean, they are the people with whom we have to deal if we want this 60+ year war to end. We don’t get to pick our enemies, and I would venture that for the most part, nobody much likes their enemies. I’m pretty clear on the fact that they don’t like us, for instance.
But now, with one interview, the feared head of a fairly repulsive organization has come out looking calm, reasonable, and responsible, while Bibi and his bunch look, at best, like Eddie Murphy in Raw.
My fear — my deeply-based-in-reality fear — is that the United States, the world’s sole remaining super power and the only force on earth that could possibly sway Israel toward responsible, moral behavior, will let them get away with it.
Even if the report eventually gets to the Security Council, there is little chance it will take any action, primarily because of objections by the United States, Israel’s closest ally which has veto power and has said the report is biased and should not be taken up by the UN’s most powerful body. – HaAretz
I’m just sayin’ — if Hamas looks more reasonable than you? You’re in trouble.
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Earlier:
I would not expect Bibi’s government to act in a responsible manner, but you would think they would be clever enough to not make Hamas to look relatively reasonable with regard to this report. No wonder he’s the darling of American necons … Dick Cheney would be proud.
Comment by The Grand Panjandrum — October 30, 2009 @ 8:26 am |