Carter Nudges Hamas towards Truce with Israel
Jimmy Carter’s controversial visit with Hamas has yielded an unexpected offer to Israel. Hamas’ leading strategist, Khaled Meshaal has publicly announced a ten year “hudna” (truce), as recognition of Israel in exchange for a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza. Of course, this offer is met with cynicism here in the United States:
“It is pretty clear to us that there is no acceptance on the part of Hamas of any kind of negotiated settlement,” offered Deputy Spokesman of the State Department, Tom Casey.
When Carter first announced his intentions to meet with Hamas, he was criticized around the world and in the United States for being naïve. Although the naïve accusation seems unwarranted after Meshal’s truce offer, as always, there are signs to undermine notions of peace. Hamas spokesman, Abu Jandal suggested that an escalation of hostilities between Hamas and Israel is near. “Abu Jandal described the recent attacks as a walk in the park and said upcoming attacks would be harsher.” Could it be that Abu Jandal was speaking without knowledge of or prior to Meshaal’s announcement? It is possible, but Hamas has a record of doublespeak.
Retired Israeli General Danny Rothschild senses “a rise in the capabilities of Hamas and a rise in the motivation.” In addition, he expects “an increase in the level of assistance that Hamas is getting from Iran and Hezbollah.”
With this muddled context, it is hard to expect Meshaal’s offer to make any headway amongst Israeli and American leaders, especially when acknowledging that his offer is nothing new:
“Khaled Meshaal, the political leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, said Wednesday that a long-term truce with Israel would be possible, if it accepted conditions including a return to its 1967 borders.” – February 8, 2006
April 21st, 2008 at 4:16 pm
The thing that you forgot about Meshaal’s offer was likewise that it was conditional likewise upon the “right of return” to the Palestinians, something that is a nonstarter if there is to be such a thing as a Jewish state. I was in favor of Carter’s going to speak with Hamas. He was uniquely qualified to so because of his public anti-Israel, even anti-Semitic (against Jews) viewpoints: it was the entre that he needed to go and at least start some kind of conversation. Even if nothing comes out of it, someone will have made an effort to stop the madness in Israel and in all areas of the region where people only aspire to live something resembling a normal life but who have had their lives taken over by haters, willfully or unwillfully. Thanks for an informative post.
April 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
Randy,
Thanks for pointing that out. I agree with you that the right to return is a condition Israel will never agree to because it would demographically alter the state of Israel.
April 23rd, 2008 at 10:36 pm
The Arab leaders are sort of required to mention the right of return, but when it comes down to it, I have seen many statements that serious negotiators for the Palestinians recognize that the right of return would not be acceptable to Israel - and they would be willing to accept a recognition of the events and negligible resettlement in Israel. This indeed was a fact in the agreements that were signed in Geneva in 2003.