On NPR this morning, I heard a comment by an Israeli official that he would not sit down to negotiations with a Palestinian government led by Hamas. His statement was something like -- What are we going to negotiate, the means of our own destruction?
Part of Hamas' platform is the destruction of the state of Israel. This is clearly not a good way to make friends and influence people.
Perhaps Israel should not categorically refuse to sit down at the table with a Hamas led Palestinian Authority. Perhaps the answer to the question "What are we going to negotiate" has an obvious answer. Perhaps the first item on the agenda is the removal of the 'destruction' plank from Hamas' platform.
But I suppose it's easier for a diplomat to dig in his heels than to work towards a reasonable compromise. I can't say that I'm completely surprised. It's hard to work with someone who wants you dead, even if the best option for a first step is to get him to stop wanting you dead.
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