Hamas platform seems rational, but...

Will new Palestinian leaders actually play politics and not war?

Alan D. Abbey|Published: 03.12.06 , 18:36

Israeli political leaders have been struggling with how to deal with the new Palestinian bosses since the election that brought Hamas a majority in the Palestinian legislature. So far, the general stance has been to say Hamas remains a terrorist group, and we won't deal with them.

Now, Hamas has officially stated a nine-point platform, so we have something to respond to besides the rantings and ravings of its leaders.

Ynetnews was good enough to provide us with a full translation, which you can find here. I'll summarize them below, with my point-by-point response.

1. Expulsion of the occupation and the establishment of a sovereign independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

- I don't have any real argument with a Palestinian state, although I could cite chapter and verse as to why there is no "occupation" in a truly legal sense. Jerusalem as your capital? It all depends on what you mean by Jerusalem, doesn't it? Would you actually sit on a joint Israeli-Palestinian council that determined such vital issues as garbage collection, community parks and sewage lines, the real tachlis (details) of local government in an expanded, open Jerusalem.

2. A commitment to the right of return of Palestinians to their homes and property.

- Sorry, fellows. You can't have it both ways: if you want a Palestinian state, you can't also have ours. A real "right of return" would mean the swamping and eventual obliteration of the Jewish state. So, take the Palestinian state. Reparations? Sure. We'll get the Quartet to pay. Some family reunifications? Sure. The return of more than a million so-called refugees to their so-called former homes? Not a chance.

3. Resistance in all its forms is a legitimate right of the Palestinian people in its path to put an end to the occupation and the reinstatement of its national rights.

- "In all its forms?" Do you mean in all legal, peaceful forums? Sure.

Do you mean suicide bombings, knifings, terror attacks and the like? Not legitimate. They never were, and will be resisted not only by all Israel, but by all civilized countries (we hope). Occupation? See No. 1 above.

4. Reform in the Palestinian Authority, with institutions based on the principles of democracy, justice, the rule of law, political pluralism, and the principle of the separation of authorities and the guarding of human rights and private property.

- Excellent. It's what you got elected to do in the first place: Throw out the bums, gangsters, and warlords. Build real institutions and stop handing out patronage and guns to your friends and family, the way the PLO/PA did. Educate the kids (but not to kill or hate). Allow opposition and even dissident parties. Use that USD 1 billion or so in international aid to build schools, houses, sewer systems, water supplies, and roads. Invest in and support entrepreneurship, high-tech projects and telecommunications facilities. We'll be glad to help.

5. It is the right of the government to reassess previous agreements between the Authority and the occupation (that is, Israel – AA) on the basis of international law and in accordance with the rights of the Palestinians people.

- On it's face, that's OK, too. But are you going to reinvent the wheel and throw out existing agreements, which, if they are upheld by both sides, actually will lead to some progress between our two peoples? One of the principles of democratic government is to honor commitments of predecessor governments, and to change them only through proper, legal means.

6. The Palestinian government will protect the independence of the choice of the Palestinian people and its institutions, and will safeguard its sovereignty in this matter.

- That's your issue to take up with Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah and the PLO/PA.

However, strengthening them would help your people enjoy some level of political security and progress. I know you don't want our help, but Israel has had nearly 60 years of experience with democratic practice.

The US has had even more, but I don't think we're there yet. By the way, does that mean you'll leave if you're voted out of office? (See No. 7,

below)

7. The government will emphasize the Arab and Islamic character of the Palestinian issue and will act to enlist Arab and Islamic support for the Palestinian people in every sector.

- That's another one for you to hash out on your own. But remember: the Hamas-led municipal government in Tul karem was tossed out less than a year after it was elected because it pushed its conservative, Islamist social agenda too intensively. Remember: once people get a taste of democracy, they tend to like it. And the first principle of democracy is: Throw the bums out.

8. The government will hold friendly and positive relations on the basis of mutual respect with Arab and Muslim countries and with the countries of the world.

- Sure. You need solidarity with the larger Arab community. That might help you to get them to come through on the financial commitments they make and never deliver. And while you're at it, ask them to help build those schools, sewers and factories we mentioned in No. 4.

9. In principle, we will be prepared to continue with the current calm, which is a path to obtain national goals, and not a goal. The calm does not mean a cancellation of the right to resist and the right to respond to Israeli violations. The calm is stipulated on the end of all Israeli aggression and the release of prisoners.

- Calm is good. Calm is about all we can expect. It's not peace, but it's not war. It's a tacit agreement. We'll do the same (and we will keep our powder dry, too). What do you really mean by responding to Israeli violations. Violations of what? Remember, your right to yell "fire" in a crowded movie theater ends when it threatens my safety.

Release of prisoners? When their terms are up or as part of a larger deal. Nothing will be done without getting something in return. I think we've learned a little about that in recent years.

Taken on its face, there is a lot to like in the Hamas platform. It actually sounds rational, which is a nice change from what we've been hearing lately. Now, let's hope that Hamas pays more attention to its platform than most political parties do.

Alan Abbey is Founding Editor of Ynetnews. His website is abbeycontent.com, and his email is alan@abbeycontent.com