Aaron David Miller, a seasoned negotiator now making the rounds to promote his new book (http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl/9780553804904.html):
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/30/miller.gaza/?iref=mpstoryview Note in particular the following passage: [QUOTE] Second... Hamas, despite its terrorism, isn't al Qaeda. A conflict-ending agreement with Israel will require a unified Palestinian house with Hamas included, agreeing to recognize Israel and end violence. Third, Obama will need to flood Gaza with humanitarian aid and development assistance for the economy. Boycotting economic assistance for 1.5 million Palestinians in hopes of toppling or pressuring Hamas makes no sense. The United States must orchestrate, or at least participate in, a new economic initiative for Gaza, and it will need Israel's support for this. [END QUOTE] Miller was on C-SPAN's morning show yesterday, and was asked about whether or not Olmert's strategy is to smash Hamas, then re-open negotiations with Fatah. Miller's blunt assessment was right on target: If that is Olmert's strategy, it is doomed to fail. Fatah is the secular expression of Palestinian nationalism. Hamas is the religious expression of Palestinian nationalism. There is no solution without dealing with both of these forces. And in the meantime, more carnage, in the service of yet another unwinnable, dead end war. John Marchioro --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Persons posting messages to not_honyaku assume all responsibility for their messages. The list owner does not review messages, and accepts no responsibility for the content of messages posted. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
