November 8, 2005

America's Hamas Dilemma

One of the major events coming up in the next few months here in the Middle East is January’s Palestinian elections. The big question being discussed within in Israel is whether or not Hamas should be allowed to participate in those elections. The question puts the United States on the horns of a dilemma. Dore Gold, the former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations boiled this quandary down to one simple question: “What happens if a terrorist group runs in a democratic election?”

We talked to Gold about the situation after last Thursday’s “700 Club” live shot when he discussed another mortal threat to Israel, the recent statements by Iran’s president calling for Israel to be wiped off the map. (By the way, the Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian group Fatah, on Sunday endorsed Iran’s call for the elimination of Israel.)

Especially since 9/11, the Bush Administration’s aim has been to bring democracy to the Middle East. It’s seen democracy as a way to combat terrorism. But now Hamas, a group dedicated to establishing a pan-Islamic state in the Middle East and destroy Israel, wants to fully participate in the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January.

So what is the U.S. position on this? Gold told CBN News, “Here the U.S. has been a little more uncertain and sent mixed signals. And as a result, what we have seen and what I have written about, is that while the United States still sees Hamas as a terrorist group, it is not opposing Hamas participating in the Palestinian elections.”

Gold, who wrote about “America’s Hamas Dilemma” on his Web site, warned what may happen if Hamas participates in January’s elections: “If Hamas becomes part of the next Palestinian Authority, you’re going to have a terrorist entity that will be moving aid funds from the U.S. and Europe to terrorist activities, and the U.S. is going to be in a very serious quandary”

Israel itself is facing the same quandary. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stated emphatically that Israel would oppose the participation of Hamas in the January Palestinian elections. Sharon’s declaration overruled Defense Minster Shaul Mofaz who said just a few days earlier that Israel would not interfere with the elections.

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