Hamas: an exercise in cynicism and terror

As we approach nearly a week in these terrorist attacks started by Hamas I am bewildered at the reaction of some actors in the International Community.  My first surprise as a South African is to find the government of Jacob Zuma  comparing Israel to Nazis: this is beyond belief, completely nauseating and it is certainly an insult to all Israelis, their government, and to all people of sound judgement around the world.

The second line of surprise comes from Philip Gordon, White House co-ordinator for the Middle East asking for respect to the ” sovereignty, security and dignity of Palestinians “.  My questions would be these:

1. How can sovereignty be given to a country where one government partner – Hamas – has as its main objective to destroy Israel ?
2. How can security be attained in the Palestinian Authority area when Hamas can do whatever it likes with its firing of rockets and it is not stopped by anyone ? And furthermore we have learnt in the last hours that it has branded  president Abbas a friend of the enemy and a criminal for criticising the firing of rockets into Israeli civilian targets.
3. Dignity is only achieved when as the Oxford Dictionary states one shows the quality or state of being of ” honour or respect “.  I doubt that the continous launching of rockets or the recent abduction and killing of the three yong Israelis Gilad, Neftali and Eyal ( Z¨L )  shows any dignity of either Hamas or the P.A.

Today the press reports that a Hamas terrorist on Al Aqsa T has just asked civilians to stay as human shelters in the roofs of houses despite the fact that the International Committee of the Red Cross acknowledges that Israel always warns civilians to get out of possible targets used by terrorists.  This is the dignity of Hamas:  using and abusing civilians as targets for their own evil, barbaric, criminal ends; using manipulation as a superb strategy to try and elate criminal minds in the Islamists´  mind who can only think, rumminate and joy with death because this is all they can offer the world, their political and religious ends.  And politically it suits them well because, as we all know from sociology, when there is no objective or goal in the group, having a common enemy or a scape-goat is perfect excuse.

The only way out of this is with peace but not at any cost.  We can only have peace when:

• Hamas respects and acknowledges the right of Israel to exist with a permanent ceasefire.
• The P.A embraces a full liberal democracy and copies Israel in its many good things: legal and real respect for minorities, fair elections, accountable and open government etc.
• When anyone can come into and get out of the P.A with no problem regardless of their background.
• When co-operation in economic and health matters can be achieved with no qualms.
• When all parties iron out a real, concrete and indefinite plan for peace.

Let´s hope this terrorism from Hamas stops at once and that reality comes back to politicians, the P.A and Hamas.