SAN DIEGO (SDJW) – American Jewish organizations are debating what course Israel should take in the wake of the announcement that the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority has reconciled with the Gaza City-based Hamas organization, which remains committed to Israel’s destruction and is considered a terrorist organization.
Some say Israel is right to terminate negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, others say Israel should redouble its efforts to find a peaceful solution to the longstanding dispute over demands by Palestinians to have a state of their own.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said Israel’s suspension of peace talks was fully justified in light of the so-called “unity” agreement between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas.
Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement: “With its embrace of Hamas, a terrorist organization which unabashedly continues to call for the destruction of the State of Israel, Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian Authority apparently have once again turned their back on peace and reconciliation.
“The international community has set three criteria which Hamas must meet prior to any international engagement: recognize Israel’s right to exist, renounce the use of violence and terrorism, and accept previously negotiated Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Hamas has met none of these requirements, and there is no indication that it intends to do so.
“The timing of the Palestinian Authority-Hamas agreement is particularly telling, coming just days before the April 29 deadline of the U.S.-brokered peace negotiations. The Palestinian Authority has intentionally torpedoed all efforts to extend the talks, and their move at reconciling with Hamas so late in the game is a slap in the face to Secretary of State John Kerry’s tireless efforts during the past nine months.
“Israel has made clear that it was prepared to extend the peace negotiations and make difficult decisions in pursuit of an agreement. The decision of Israel’s cabinet to suspend negotiations, with the future of the talks dependent on the outcome of the Hamas-PA unity, was fully justified.”
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J Street was on the other side of the argument, issuing this statement:
“J Street believes the Israeli government’s decision to suspend peace talks with the Palestinians over the preliminary reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas is premature.
“The reconciliation agreement has yet to be implemented, and many critical questions remain unanswered. With five days left before the deadline for Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace initiative, all involved should be searching for purposeful actions to revive the troubled process, not accelerating its demise.
“In this moment of crisis and uncertainty, American leadership is more important than ever. That is why J Street has called on the Obama administration to present its own framework for a two-state peace agreement to create a basis for both sides to move forward and to provide a clear test of the seriousness of the intentions of both parties.
“In reacting to the reconciliation agreement, we stressed that any Palestinian government must abide by international agreements, recognize Israel and renounce violence. If Hamas were to accept those terms, it would be an historic and potentially transformative event. Alternatively, if a Palestinian government were to be formed that reverses its position on these fundamental principles, it would be devastating for the prospects for peace.
“But today, Israel is dealing with the same entities it has been dealing with since the beginning of this process— the PLO and a Palestinian government that rejects terrorism and believes in a two-state solution and Israel’s right to exist in peace and security.
“It is premature for either the Israeli government or the US Congress to take steps to punish the Palestinian Authority for this reconciliation agreement before the composition and policies of the new government are known. Suspending peace talks or American aid will hurt Israel’s long-term security as much or more as it will hurt the Palestinians.
“Israeli and Palestinian leaders have a choice with each step they are taking in these critical days: reignite the familiar cycle of blame, retaliation and pain that has plagued their peoples for decades, or, with the help of the US, bring that cycle to an end. We urge all involved to work to defuse the building tension and to salvage the promise of a secure and peaceful future that Secretary Kerry laid out before the parties nine months ago.”
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Preceding provided by ADL, J Street … San Diego Jewish World invites attention from sponsors who would like their messages to run beneath topical stories. Contact donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com
PLO vs Hamas?
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Eventually, there is no difference – whatsoever, between the terror organization called “Al-Fatah” and its military wing – “El-Aktsa Martyrs” that controls the Ram’alla PLO, and the terror organization called “Hamas” – an offshoot of the “Muslim Brotherhood”, as to their end-goal: annihilate the Jewish State. Terror is a legitimate means to both of them, however, they differ about tactics: the extent of openness as to using ‘Takkiyya’, to deceive the Jews and the naïve West, in their war against the Jews. ‘Takkiyya’ is the Islamist commandment to deceive the “infidel” – esp. the Jew (“Zionist”), as long as the Muslim is not ready to wage full open war.
Doesn’t J-Street know that? and if they do know that, why do they keep inciting the world to cede Jewish land to the “Palestinians”?