A simple statement of Fact

Submitted by Ron Thompson (United States), Jul 11, 2014 at 22:48

In response to both of Dr Pipes' columns today - I believe Hamas wants war for the political reasons he lists. But I think there is the additional reason that the psychology of Islam dictates war against all who do not submit to Allah, a list which Jews have been been Number One on since the lifetime of Mohammed. So of course their founding a State in what had been nominally an Islamic land, under the Ottomans if not the Arabs, is an insult they cannot recover from.

I also note the irony that this time Hamas seems to be getting less support from their fellow Arabs than from the muddled heads of the West, which is enough to keep them thinking they can win something politically, or at least harm Israel politically, if not militarily.

A single sentence from one or more leaders in the West, and a few prominent intellectuals or columnists might, at long last change that, although it would flout the conventional wisdom of decades that everybody knows what the eventual result is going to be.

That statement is: " The Palestinians do not want a state if the price is that they must live in Peace alongside Israel"

Although this seems to have been an obvious truth for decades, and certainly since the second intifada, no one in high office will say it. Is it at long last time for somebody to say this simple statement of fact, and before Hamas forces Israel to kill so many Palestinians that the muddled heads will again come forward and put Israel on the political defensive?

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".