views

essay

New Charter, Same Vitriol

Don’t be deceived by Hamas’ ideological ruse.

H

amas’ new political program is
essentially a ploy to create the illu-
sion of backing away from a long-
standing pledge to destroy Israel.
Lest there be no mistake: The state-
ment may revise Hamas’ 1988 charter, but
it contains nothing to warrant an end to
the terrorist organization’s international
isolation.
The statement, more a manifesto, seeks
the liberation of “the land and the home
of the Palestinian people” lying between
the Jordan River and the Mediterranean
Sea —including the Jewish state.
Hamas imagines a national consen-
sus for a Palestinian state along the
pre-1967 borders between Israel and
the Palestinian territories, with east
Jerusalem as the capital. The imagined
scenario includes a right of return to “the
Zionist entity” for Palestinian “refugees”
— double talk for staking claim to Israel,
which Hamas insists is an occupier of
Palestinian land.
Hamas reinforces its “refusal to cease
terror, recognize Israel’s right to exist or
abide by past Israeli-Palestinian agree-
ments.” It thus rejects, once more, the
three preconditions set by the West for
Hamas to be considered a legitimate
regional player.

DELVING WITHIN

Mitchell Bard

Mitchell Bard, a noted
American foreign policy
analyst specializing in
U.S.-Middle East policy,
sets the record straight
in a scathing review of
Hamas’ May 1 revision
of its “General Principles
and Policies.”

Contributing Writers:
Joshua Lewis Berg, Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne
Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S.
Cohen, Shelli Liebman Dorfman, Adam Finkel,
Stacy Gittleman, Stacy Goldberg, Judy
Greenwald, Ronelle Grier, Esther Allweiss
Ingber, Allison Jacobs, Barbara Lewis, Jennifer
Lovy, Rabbi Jason Miller, Alan Muskovitz,
David Sachs, Karen Schwartz, Robin Schwartz,
Steve Stein

Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us

F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us

| Editorial

Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl
jheadapohl@renmedia.us
Story Development Editor:
Keri Guten Cohen
kcohen@renmedia.us
Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin
lkonstantin@renmedia.us
Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello
smanello@renmedia.us
Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin
dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net
Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar
rsklar@renmedia.us

In doing so, he presents a
war with the Palestine Liberation
compelling case for why Hamas,
Organization. The PLO is the
whose terror-driven leadership
global representative and chief
rules the Gaza Strip, will never
negotiator for the Palestinian
be a partner with any stature
people. Hamas isn’t just seeking
in the pursuit of resolving the
a seat at the table of Palestinian
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
leadership; it wants to occupy
Hardly “moderating its image,”
every seat.
Hamas largely restates long-held Robert Sklar
“Hamas will not give up terror-
Contributing Editor
positions against Israel, but
ism regardless of any decisions
cloaks its “hostility” toward Jews
by others to pursue nonviolent
by using “Zionists” as a “euphe-
means of achieving Palestinian
mism,” Bard asserts.
objectives,” writes Bard.
The elusive two-state solution calls
Which folds seamlessly into his point
for a Palestinian state in the Gaza Strip
that Hamas not only “staged a coup
and part of the West Bank with the Arab-
against the Palestinian Authority to take
majority eastern sector of Jerusalem as its over the Gaza Strip,” but also “seeks to do
capital. Fatah, the lead
the same in the West Bank.”
faction of the Maumoud
He adds, “Hamas is interested in the
Abbas-led Palestinian
domination of Hamas. Its war against its
Authority, governs
rivals demonstrates its lack of concern
with unity.”
Palestinian-controlled
He’s saying Hamas and Fatah lack the
areas of the West Bank.
political capital to ever reunite.
Hamas, “elected” to lead
By necessity, Bard maintains, Hamas
Gaza in 2006, ousted P.A.
loyalists from the coastal overlooks Israeli peace treaties with
Jordan and Egypt to argue “the Zionist
strip in 2007.
Mahmoud Abbas
project” is an enemy of the Arab/Islamic
Bard is execu-
world. In search of legitimacy, Hamas
tive director of the American-Israeli
also strives to break from Egypt’s Muslim
Cooperative Enterprise, a Maryland-
Brotherhood, its 1987 progenitor, and
based nonprofit dedicated to a stronger
position itself as a Palestinian national
U.S.-Israel relationship. He also is execu-
liberation and resistance
tive director of the Jewish Virtual Library.
movement.
He’s former editor of Near East Report, the
Hamas hammers on
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
the Palestinian plight
newsletter.
outranking other Arab/
Islamic matters — as
DIGGING DEEP
if states in the Arab
Most Jews know the Hamas charter is
League don’t believe
grounded in terror. Few Jews have pored
stopping Islamic State
over the document like Bard has.
and Iran from grabbing
One of his central findings: Hamas is at Khaled Mashaal

| Advertising Sales

Sales Director: Keith Farber
kfarber@renmedia.us

Account Executives :

Wendy Flusty, Annette Kizy, Paige Lustig

Sales Manager Assistants :

Andrea Gusho, Karen Marzolf

| Business Offices

Billing Coordinator: Pamela Turner

| Production By
FARAGO & ASSOCIATES

Manager: Scott Drzewiecki
Designers: Kelly Kosek, Amy Pollard,
Michelle Sheridan, Susan Walker

| Detroit Jewish News

Chairman: Michael H. Steinhardt
President/Publisher: Arthur M. Horwitz
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Chief Operating Officer: F. Kevin Browett
kbrowett@renmedia.us
Controller: Craig R. Phipps

| Fulfillment

Joelle Harder
jharder@renmedia.us

regional hegemony isn’t more urgent.
Don’t be swayed by Khaled Mashaal,
outgoing Hamas political chief in exile,
who, according to the Associated Press,
said at a Qatar news briefing that the
recast policy document reflects “a reason-
able Hamas that is serious about deal-
ing with the reality and the regional and
international surroundings while still rep-
resenting the cause of its people.”

LOOKING AHEAD

Fatah, presumably moderate by
Palestinian standards, boasts its own
terrorist wing. But under the right lead-
ership — which could be in store given
President Abbas is 82 — perhaps Fatah
one day could dawn new stripes condu-
cive to peace with Israel.
Hamas, in contrast, isn’t about to
make peace with Israel, Fatah or anyone
not aligned with Gaza City’s radical
Islamist orbit.
Hamas represents an ideology, not
an inherent will. While all Gazans must
fall in line to survive, that doesn’t mean
there’s not a glint of support within for
a better way of life rooted in Israeli-
Palestinian peace.
As Bard puts it: “The terrorist activi-
ties of Hamas, its bigotry toward Jews,
gays and Christians, and mistreat-
ment of women undermine the values
of peace and tolerance expressed by
Muslims who do not share Hamas’
extremist ideology.”
Somehow tapping into that pivotal
resistance could unlock a realm of pos-
sibility for direct, bilateral talks between
Israel and the Palestinians — the likeli-
est path toward a productive, lasting
peace. •

| Departments

General Offi ces: 248-354-6060
Advertising: 248-351-5107
Advertising Fax: 248-304-0049
Circulation: 248-351-5120
Classifi ed Ads: 248-351-5116
Advertising Deadline: Monday, 2 p.m.
Editorial Fax: 248-304-8885

Deadline: All public and social
announcements must be typewritten
and received by noon Tuesday, nine days
prior to desired date of publication.

Subscriptions:
1 year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $85
2 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$153
3 years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$204
1 year out-of-state . . . . . . . . . . .$125
2 years out-of-state . . . . . . . . . .$225
Per year foreign . . . . . . . . . . . . .$300

Detroit Jewish News
29200 Northwestern Highway, Suite 110
Southfi eld, MI 48034
©copyright 2017 Detroit Jewish News

The Detroit Jewish News (USPS 275-520) is
published every Thursday at 29200 Northwestern
Highway, #110, Southfield, Michigan. Periodical
postage paid at Southfield, Michigan, and
additional mailing offices. Postmaster: send
changes to: Detroit Jewish News, 29200
Northwestern Hwy., #110, Southfield, MI 48034.

To make a donation to the
DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
FOUNDATION
go to the website
www.djnfounadtion.org

OUR JN The Jewish News aspires to communicate news and opinion that’s useful, engaging, enjoyable and unique. It strives to reflect the full range of diverse viewpoints while also advocating positions that strengthen
Jewish unity and continuity. We desire to create and maintain a challenging, caring, enjoyable work environment that encourages creativity and innovation. We acknowledge our role as a responsible, responsive
MISSION member of the community. Being competitive, we must always strive to be the most respected, outstanding Jewish community publication in the nation. Our rewards are informed, educated readers, very satisfied

advertisers, contented employees and profitable growth.

6

June 1 • 2017

jn

jn

1942 - 2017

Covering and Connecting
Jewish Detroit Every Week

