They made a choice. They would rather suffer.

Where is the direct quote of Haniyeh stating that he does not/will not recognize Israel? He stated that he does not recognize the legitimacy of Israel's occupation. Isn't there a difference?

Hamas will not recognize Israel. what a shock. i am sure that the left wing media machine along w/ the usual suspects(Beilin/Peres/Olmert)are busy right now coming up w/ more self-hating delusions to spew on the people of Israel about how we need to make them like Israel more by giving away land. poor, poor Israel. how far you have sunk to be lead by these empty, EU/ loving criminals.

They can sugarcoat it anyway they want for western apeasers consumption,THEY WILL NEVER RECOGNIZE ISRAEL. just another unmissed oportunity to miss an oportunity.

The Hamas government is so unreasonable. You cannot reason or negotiate with unreasonable, illogical people. Do the Palestinians prefer to live in poverty with no jobs, food, money? Nothing satisfies them. Let their Syrian brothers open their country to them. And by the way, why is it no Arab country has offered itself as a homeland to the Palestinians?

These pre-designed actions of Hamas and Hamas/PA are meant to make Abbas appear as a moderate. Who said these Arabs don't have brains? They're playing good cop/bad cop and will fool Bush.

Ok, the Palestinians are idiots and their leaders more so. But don't take a position on starvation. Its inhumane and very bad for Israel - do you really think Israel needs a starving population on its flank? Wake up, and watch your mouth.

That's right, because Haniyeh defines "occupation" as including areas inside the Green Line - like Tel Aviv/Jaffa and former Arab villages in the Sharon and the Galil. He wants millions of Arabs to "return" to Israel, and eliminate the Jewish State. If that were not deliberately ambiguously clear enough, he rejected the conditions of the Quartet, that require recognition of the Jewish State's right to exist and previous agrements of the PA. Even Abas knows his words mean continued war and a deal breaker. Why don't you?

What is the purpose of allowing funds into Gaza/West Bank without recognition of Israel...just to promote the further threat to the existance of Israel from Hamas? Hamas should face a no confidence vote from their parliment and possibly new elections. Hopefully with God's will the Palestinians will wake up to the idea of peace and throw the Hamas Bums out of office. Afterall, the "Occupation" can only end when Peace exists between Israel and Palestine. Peace can only be achieved if both parties recoginize the right of one another to exist as independent soverign states side by side.

#1 I dont think that starving the people because of their hard-headed leaders is good. I do not condone some of those people's actions, but not all of them are terrorists. #2 It's basically the same, Hamas's perspective and the reason why they do not recognise Israel is that Israel is ocupying palestinian land. For them to recognise Israel would either require an official change of position (saying that Israel is indeed not ocupying their lands) or acceptance of defeat in saying that while Israel is occupying their lands, they can't handle it any more, and will recognise them to get international aid and support. They will obviously not do the second, and they are very unlikely to do the first.

Morris, everyone with a brain understands that the entirety of the land of Israel, Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv, etc. constitutes "occupation" that needs to be destroyed by violent jihad, accoring to the Hamas charter. Where have you been man? "The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine has been an Islamic Waqf throughout the generations and until the Day of Resurrection, no one can renounce it or part of it, or abandon it or part of it..... (Peace) initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion..."

Hamas just learned an important lesson from Hizbollah.. Jihad works! Israel is now impotent to finish off an Arab militia. The worldwide political scene now favors the poor Arab civilian-jihadist. Especially when the media plants stuffed toy animals and Disney childrens blankets into bombed out buildings.

Just to clarify, are you the same "Mark, USA" who advocates a "smaller Israel?" Thx.

Islamist-Jihadist forces like Haniyeh and Hamas who do not recognize Israel shows that Israel does not have to waste time dealing with them. Israel instead should continue to develop its historic homeland as part of its national development policy. Road map to hell is a road map to the bottomless pit. It is meaningless. Israel should focus on strengthening itself against its dark enemies. The fact is it is none of the business of other countries to interfere in the internal affairs of Israel.

Hamas is the product of: Bush demanding democracy Arab corruption 60 years of percieved oppression So I guess we should ask the question "How do we change this bad situation?"

They made a choice. They chose death and destruction. Feeding Hamas is not Israel's problem. Hamas spends its money on smuggling weapons. Let them eat weapons.

The world offered Hamas help if they would recognize Israel time and time again. Their answer is NO. Why should Israel help them. G-d helps those that help themselves. The people can demand Hamas to recognize Israel if they are so miserable. Have they done that? NO.

Having fewer Hamas in this world is good. They want to be martyrs. Let them be martyrs.

As long as they want peace, I am willing to sacrifice and make painful concessions. If they do not want peace, I have no sympathy for them. None. I would rather they starve to death and suffer.

An international peackeeping force is a good idea.

I hope the Palestinians are going to force hamas to step down pretty soon. The economic seige worked in the sense that the Palestinians will never vote for hamas again. Latest polls show that hamas' approval rate dropped to 23% The salt and bread diet is not working out with hamas hahaha

To say "let them starve to death" means to NOT take a position on starvation. Mark did not say "make" them starve or "take their food." If anything, he advocates their freedom to decide whether to eat or not eat.

I don't see anything Haniyeh said that was news. Sure would be nice if the press would stop treating this guy like a rock star and report everytime passes gas.

What we have here is a war over whose religion is "right." Seems to me, we need to convert everyone to the same religion(Science!!) or kill em all.

You wrote: "I dont think that starving the people because of their hard-headed leaders is good. I do not condone some of those people's actions, but not all of them are terrorists." Can you image the allies sending aid to the starving German people during the second world war? The allies demanded unconditional surrender and total war until the German people came to their senses. The people elected the Nazi party. Palestinian Muslims have elected Hamas. What's the difference?

God bless Arabs! Only Arab leadership will help Israel to save its willingnes to fight for survival. Israelis were promised a "new Middle East" and believed they are already there. Welcome back to reality!

to shoot themseleves in the foot,soo many times.There leaders just love this power that they have over the poor Palestinians,they give them nothing.These guys just steal all this money they get from diffrent countries,and put it in.Swiss bank French banks.They buy nice cars, houses,nice suits and eat good food. What there leaders will give them for nothing are guns and bombs.Not nice houseing with trees,flowers and nice lawn.Palestinians dont know about these things,what a pity..

I have no problem with your questioning journalistic license but the Hamas government said only today (and I quote) 'we will honor previously signed documents if it is in our interest to do so". Did you expect them to say that they would recognise Israel ? Bunch of 6th century buffoons that are causing the Palestinians needless suffering.