Giving The Palestinians Yet Another Pass

The following is my latest column in The Jewish Link of Bergen County, in which I question the United States’ perplexing decision to work with the new unity government that was formed by the Palestinian Authority and the terrorist organization Hamas:

 

Giving The Palestinians Yet Another Pass

 

By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq.

 

Diplomacy is a complex exercise. Decisions made in the context of a diplomatic situation are often fraught with challenges and the implications of a determination that eventually proves to be erroneous could be dire.

 

One such diplomatic decision that very well may have lasting repercussions is the United States’ perplexing pronouncement that it is willing to work with the new unity government that has been formed by the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

 

Hamas and its terrorist tendencies are well known to the United States and to the world. As a terrorist organization that openly calls for the obliteration of the State of Israel and relishes the opportunity to perpetrate deadly acts of terror against innocent civilians, Hamas’ involvement in a unity government with Fatah is particularly troubling. With its violent background and detestable views towards the Israel and the Jewish nation, any government that includes Hamas as a partner should be shunned by the international community. Yet, the United States somehow concluded that it makes diplomatic sense to give Hamas a chance. As Israel’s leaders rushed to decry the new unity government, the United States rushed to embrace it.

 

What makes the United States’ decision so much more disconcerting is that it reportedly informed Israel that it would take a “wait and see” approach with the unity government, and then did an abrupt about-face, thereby paving the way for the European Union and the United Nations to also indicate a willingness to accept the unity government.

 

How is it that the United States was fooled so easily? Although Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and the Fatah leadership are quick to note that none of the initial members of the new government are part of Hamas, we all know who is pulling the strings in this puppet show. Moreover, when there are elections for the new unity government, who is to say that Hamas won’t step in and assert its power in order to secure the governmental seats that it covets?

 

Just as the world would certainly not recognize nor collaborate with a government that was established and openly supported by a terrorist group such as Al Qaeda, so too the international community should not accept a government in which Hamas plays a vital role.

 

It is important to recognize that a terrorist in a business suit is still a terrorist. Members of Hamas will continue to harbor extreme animosity towards Israel, regardless of whether they are part of a governing body or building bombs in an explosives factory. These are the same people that celebrated the recent abduction of three Israeli students in a tasteless and appalling display of callous indifference as the boys’ families and an entire nation were forced to endure indescribable pain and anguish.

 

And what about Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority? Why is it that they continually get a pass from the United States after repeatedly taking steps that run counter to Israel’s best interests?

 

The decision by Abbas to embrace Hamas is an affront not just to Israel, but to the entire diplomatic community, and I believe that there must be consequences for having made that choice. Once again, Mahmoud Abbas has thumbed his nose at the United States and at the peace process, but the ramifications do not appear to be forthcoming.

 

It is time for Abbas to face the music for his actions. Even after Abbas defied the United States’ wishes and unilaterally went to the United Nations in an effort to achieve statehood, there was no diminution in U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority. Following Abbas’ decision to walk away from the peace process, there were no consequences. Although Abbas has funneled money received from the United States and intended for foreign aid to the families of terrorists who murdered Israelis, there have been no penalties imposed on him.

 

Now that Abbas has embraced Hamas and empowered them, it is incomprehensible that the United States would once again proceed without duly castigating him. It is time for the United States to stand up to Mahmoud Abbas and penalize him accordingly. For example, if Congress was to immediately defund the Palestinian Authority, it would send a clear message that embracing Hamas and endorsing their terrorist ways has grave ramifications. In fact, the language in the United States’ annual appropriations bills, which restricts the delivery of financial aid to the Palestinian Authority in the event that there is a power-sharing government between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, seems to inherently preclude the United States from continuing to fund them with hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

 

And let us not forget for a moment where some of the American dollars flowing into the Palestinian Authority ultimately end up. It is inconceivable that the United States would keep sending hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the Palestinian Authority so that it can continue perpetuating incitement through its hate-based educational curriculum and providing a safe haven for terrorists who it celebrates as heroes.

 

The United States should reconsider its decision to take a “wait and see” approach with the unity government, and instead issue a swift condemnation of this deadly union with a dangerous terrorist organization. With its track record of murder and mayhem, Hamas is not worthy of the United States’ trust, nor does any government with which Hamas is associated deserve the United States’ backing.

 

I hope that the United States will see through the façade that has been created by Hamas and take the necessary steps to protect the people of Israel, and not the people who want to destroy Israel.

 

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at TroodlersTake.blogspot.com, www.PaulReverePR.com, or www.JewishWorldPR.com. You can also follow him on Twitter: @troodler