Hi Andras. You know that the PLO, the longest-standing and most prominent Palestinian political organization, is secular, yes? Fatah is also secular. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), and the Palestinian People's …
Hi Andras. You know that the PLO, the longest-standing and most prominent Palestinian political organization, is secular, yes? Fatah is also secular. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), and the Palestinian People's Party (PPP)? All secular. You may think they're all very bad. That's fine. But it's only after the leaders of these secular organizations have been killed, jailed, or bought off that Islamist groups emerged in Palestinian politics.
Hamas got its start in Gaza with Israel's implicit support; Israel saw Hamas as a useful nuisance to secular Fatah and the PLO, which were far more powerful than Hamas. Of course Israel has fought Hamas for decades, and has vowed to destroy Hamas after October 7th. But as numerous Israeli and U.S. reports attest, Netanyahu was happy to see Hamas in power in Gaza and didn't hamper its rule. Why? To keep the secular Palestinian Authority in a weak position, thus facilitating the building of settlements, and facts on the ground to make a two-state solution impossible. Fun!
Are Fatah or the P.A. democratic? No. But you can imagine that trying to have a normal government with normal democratic procedures is hampered when the P.A. "government" doesn't have real power, and isn't an actual state.
Your dismissal of the prospect of a secular democratic Palestine belies either ignorance, bigotry, or both.
But I grew up listening daily to this kind of drek. I even believed some of it, until I saw what was actually happening in my society and in others living under similar creeds.
Which is what I do in this instance. I read your text, and even credit your lucidity.
But then I look at what Hamas actually did during those hours when it had the upper hand in a segment of Israel. Instead of attacking the IDF, those "heroes" carefully sought out unarmed civilians, prefering 80-year old women and youngsters in cribs, and proceeded to butcher them.
Hi Andras. You know that the PLO, the longest-standing and most prominent Palestinian political organization, is secular, yes? Fatah is also secular. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), and the Palestinian People's Party (PPP)? All secular. You may think they're all very bad. That's fine. But it's only after the leaders of these secular organizations have been killed, jailed, or bought off that Islamist groups emerged in Palestinian politics.
Hamas got its start in Gaza with Israel's implicit support; Israel saw Hamas as a useful nuisance to secular Fatah and the PLO, which were far more powerful than Hamas. Of course Israel has fought Hamas for decades, and has vowed to destroy Hamas after October 7th. But as numerous Israeli and U.S. reports attest, Netanyahu was happy to see Hamas in power in Gaza and didn't hamper its rule. Why? To keep the secular Palestinian Authority in a weak position, thus facilitating the building of settlements, and facts on the ground to make a two-state solution impossible. Fun!
Are Fatah or the P.A. democratic? No. But you can imagine that trying to have a normal government with normal democratic procedures is hampered when the P.A. "government" doesn't have real power, and isn't an actual state.
Your dismissal of the prospect of a secular democratic Palestine belies either ignorance, bigotry, or both.
Nice recitation. And you recite it so well.
But I grew up listening daily to this kind of drek. I even believed some of it, until I saw what was actually happening in my society and in others living under similar creeds.
Which is what I do in this instance. I read your text, and even credit your lucidity.
But then I look at what Hamas actually did during those hours when it had the upper hand in a segment of Israel. Instead of attacking the IDF, those "heroes" carefully sought out unarmed civilians, prefering 80-year old women and youngsters in cribs, and proceeded to butcher them.
That is what Hamas is.