TERRORIZING THE TERRORISTS: Last week, Hamas announced that they were pulling out of Middle East peace talks, because Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas had made too many concessions in talks with the Israelis. On Sunday Hamas collaborated with two other groups on a terrorist attack that killed one Israeli. Today, Israel wounded Hamas kingpin Abdel-Aziz al-Rantissi, as he rode in a car in the Gaza Strip.
If any pundit or analyst or diplomat today has the effrontery to suggest that by trying to blow up the car of a leader of Hamas, Israel is somehow "impeding peace," then I don't that I can ever take that person seriously again. With Hamas making it perfectly clear that they have no intention of stopping suicide bombings at any point in the foreseeable future, I don't see how peace is the slightest bit possible until Hamas is obliterated. And I'm speaking as someone who supports the roadmap, albeit with much skepticism.
(I'd also be remiss in not pointing out that for the past hour, the Google News headline has referred to the Palestinian terrorist cabal not as Hamas but as "Hams." Which, come to think of it, is just as anathema to Israel...)
UPDATE: New York Times headline: "Israeli Attack Wounds Top Hamas Aide in Blow to Peace Bid." What- it's somehow good for the peace process if Hamas bigwigs don't get blown up?
Posted by Stephen Silver at June 10, 2003 07:37 AM