Thursday, May 5, 2005
Can Abbas curb the terrorists, even if he wants to? I actually think he probably wants to, if only to consolidate power and graft for his party. Middle Eastern political parties are not so much about governing and providing services as they are about power, indoctrination and assure a piece of the pie for your friends. With real elections (whenever they should come) and a free society that may change, but one pantomime vote doesn't do it.
The trouble is that Palestinian society is so badly sick that they are totally incapable of living up to the most basic of agreements - like stopping violence against Israel and disarming the terror groups. Maybe the world should call a spade a spade and just recognize Hamas as the government of the PA. One thing's for certain - the PA as constituted can barely be called a legitimate government when they don't even control their own territory.
Telegraph: Hamas protest forces Abbas to free gunman
Egyptian diplomats based in Gaza were forced to intervene, spelling out to the Abbas administration the dire consequences of not releasing the gunman, Jamal Aawad. Within hours he was free.
The incident, which underlined the power enjoyed by Hamas, was a significant setback for Mr Abbas's attempt to entrench the rule of law after decades of radicalism, corruption and disorder under Yasser Arafat.
It will be seized on by Israel and further delay negotiations for a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian question...
Gee, y'think?
Meanwhile...Hey, where's Jeff Halper and the rest of the anti-house demolition people?
Exactly. Too, there are so many aspects of their society, their most fundamental social/political structures and initiatives, which render supportive evidence to this critique that it becomes virtually undeniable if that real world evidence is heeded.
E.g., when Arafat was dying, did he repair to a modern hospital created and built and within Palestinian society? No, none such exists. Is this one example irrefutable evidence itself? No it isn't, it's merely one more aspect of the overall evidence. The nihilism with which they teach their children, with barely a fig leaf of civilizing intent, is another example still.
(And of course, is our sophistical, post-modern age, we all know the subversive content that exists within the phrase "civilising intent." Clearly a linguistic attempt at revanchist colonial aspirations. Then, taken to its logical conclusion: suicide/homicide tactics, intifadas, etc. are all given carte blanche access, as equals, in the social/political/moral and broader civilizational debate.)