Silverstein on Hamas
On Richard Silverstein’s anti-Israel blog Tikun Olam (link not provided, since he loves getting traffic), “Kane” asks a simple question in the comments:
# On August 26th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Kane said:Richard,
I would be interested in hearing what you think of what Orgo said (Orgo had commented that there is no evidence connecting Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh to any terror attacks -ed.) Do you think Haniyeh is a terrorist or connected to terror attacks?
Thanks.
Silverstein responds:
# On August 26th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Richard Silverstein said:@Kane: Haniyeh is less connected to terror attacks than Yitzchak Shamir was. Let me make clear that I’m no friend of Hamas. I wish there were another authentic, popular grassroots Palestinian political movement instead of it. I don’t like their politics or their willingness to embrace armed violent resistance. That being said, they ARE an authentic, grassroots popular movement. Until some other group can beat them in a legitimate election, they should be recognized as a legitimate government.
So there you have it, folks. Silverstein is clearly stating:
1. The leader of Hamas is less connected to terrorism than was a former Prime Minister of Israel.
2. Hamas engages in “resistance”, not terrorism.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
Did you expect otherwise from Herr KAPOstein and TIKUNHAMAS?
Something else in this post strikes me.
Silverstein pronounces Hamas as an authentic grass roots organization.
If this is true, where do the cries of “collective punishment” come from when Israel cuts supplies to the Palestinians in response to Hamas attacks?
They can’t have it both ways in saying the population is innocent of Hamas’ actions, and Hamas is created from the will of the Palestinian populace.
But, as in so many other cases I am trying to argue common sense to Jewish self loathers and anti-semites, when self loathing and anti-semitism defy common sense.
Stan
Excellent points, Stan.
I’m no admirer of Shamir or of Lehi.
There is no denying Lehi were a criminal gang who did awful things, the assassinations of Folke Bernadette and Lord Moyne, the massacres of civilians, the proposition to fight on the side of the Nazis, the bombing of a British police station and support for terrorist groups like the IRA are things I can not reconcile with as someone who has experienced 2 terrorist attacks and lost members of my family in the UK and in Israel.
That aside I don’t agree with a lot of what Silverstein says, he is wearing blinkers if he cannot admit that Haniyeh and indeed Hamas are hell bent on the destruction of innocent people but at the same time I can’t simply ignore terrorism because it was done for my supposed benefit, and nor will a large number of other jews of British or Commonwealth extraction- that would be hypocrisy.
thanks Dave, up until this point I thought Silverstaien was a misguided but generally decent wacko. Now I see that he is simply an asshole. Again, thanks for your good work.
-ron
Pipes exposes Silverstein’s lies:
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/comments/135692
check out the kapo dickie web site about silverstein
at http://www.kapodickie.blogspot.com
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