Hamas legitimacy campaign in high gear

Mahmoud al-ZaharHamas’ Mahmoud al-Zahar, in the Washington Post:

While Rice persuades Israeli occupation forces to cut a few dozen meaningless roadblocks from among the more than 500 West Bank control points, these forces simultaneously choke off fuel supplies to Gaza… [blah, blah, recitation of Israeli ‘crimes’]

Last week’s attack on the Nahal Oz fuel depot should not surprise critics in the West. Palestinians are fighting a total war…

OK, Israel is “chok[ing] off fuel supplies to Gaza”, so you attack the only place that fuel from Israel enters Gaza?

And today,

Only a week after the lethal terror attack at the Nahal Oz fuel terminal, and after complaining of fuel shortages, terror groups are again targeting Israelis supplying fuel to the Gaza Strip.

Thursday afternoon, Palestinians opened fire at trucks transporting fuel to the Strip at the Nahal Oz fuel terminal. No injuries or damages were reported in the latest attack. — YNet

Tell us again about how Israel is responsible for the shortage, please.

But not only are the Gazans fuel-less, they are also hungry, says Jimmy Carter:

Speaking at the American University in Cairo after talks with Hamas leaders, Carter said Palestinians in Gaza were being “starved to death” and received fewer calories a day than people in the poorest parts of Africa. — YNet

How does Carter know this, since Israel did not allow him to enter Gaza? Simple, Mahmoud al-Zahar told him!

Carter’s talks in Cairo were with former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar and former Interior Minister Saeed Seyam, who did not speak to reporters. Hamas officials have touted the meetings as a recognition of their legitimacy after their 2006 election victory.

As I suggested last week, Carter’s visit is already being used to lend legitimacy to Hamas.

Looks like a coordinated campaign to me, with the Washington Post and Carter leading the charge.

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One Response to “Hamas legitimacy campaign in high gear”

  1. Shalom Freedman says:

    ‘The Washington Post’ tried to play a double game. It published an editorial condemning ‘Hamas’ while giving the ‘Hamas ‘ leader legitimacy and an oped space. Of course the real attention is paid not to their editorial but to the space and legitimacy given to ‘Hamas’.
    The element of self- defeat, of self- undermining is strong in Western and democratic societies. It is especially strong in the United States and Israel.
    No expressions of outrage and shame seem capable of halting this trend and process.