Obtuseness knows no bounds
As part of the negotiating process, Mr. Netanyahu agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails over nine months rather than halt settlement construction. But when Mr. Abbas welcomed the latest group to the West Bank this week, Mr. Netanyahu accused him of embracing terrorists, even though Mr. Abbas never condoned the prisoners’ crimes. If Mr. Netanyahu felt so strongly about the prisoner releases, he should have chosen instead to halt settlement construction.In a response to the Times that has not yet been published, Elihu Stone writes (Hat Tip: Lance K):
Sometimes, one can only stand agape at the moral pronouncements of the New York Times Editorial Board. The following, for instance, was simply jaw-dropping: “…when Mr. Abbas welcomed the latest group [of released prisoners] to the West Bank this week, Mr. Netanyahu accused him of embracing terrorists, even though Mr. Abbas never condoned the prisoners’ crimes. If Mr. Netanyahu felt so strongly about the prisoner releases, he should have chosen instead to halt settlement construction.”
Having been forced into a Hobson’s choice by an American administration whose crowning achievement to date is having thoroughly misread the entire Middle East, with deadly consequence, Mr. Netanyahu now suffers the indignity being kicked by the New York Times Editorial Board for actually making a choice. ‘Well, Sophie, if you really cared about that kid you would have chosen her.’
Mr. Abbas has consistently sent a loud and clear message to his constituency that he views quite favorably activities akin to those for which these released prisoners were serving time. Abbas himself signed the PA declaration decorating Secretary-General of the Democratic Front [for the Liberation of Palestine] Nayef Hawatmeh with the highest order of the Star of Honor" and noting Hawatmeh's "efforts to raise the flag of Palestine since the launch of the Palestinian revolution." What were those efforts? The DFLP’s hallmark since its inception in 1969 has been terror attacks targeting civilians, like the massacre of 22 schoolchildren and 4 adults after taking them hostage in Ma'alot, the killing of 9 children and 3 adults in an attack on a school bus, the slaying of 7 in a Jerusalem bombing, the murder of 4 hostages in an apartment building in Beit Shean, all of which took place in the 1970's.
More recently, Abbas embraced and kissed on stage the releasee Issa Abd Rabbo. Abd Rabbo was serving two life sentences for murdering two Israeli university students - Ron Levi and Revital Seri who were hiking south of Jerusalem on 22 October 1984. To add salt to the wound, Abbas Zaki, of Fatah’s Central Committee, a close associate of Abbas, whom the latter often chooses to speak on his behalf, publicly mocked Israel for agreeing to release Palestinian murderers. Zaki said “We say to Israel: Die in your rage. Go to your cemeteries and recite over your dead whatever you recite. Here they are [who Israel said] 'have blood on their hands' (i.e., murderers); here they are [back] among their own people: fighters, knights, free men!" Abbas’ embrace of Abd Abbo and ringing silence in response to Zaki’s praise of Abd Abbo evidences clear enough endorsement of his crimes.
Maybe Mr. Netanyahu did make a bad choice – But it is utterly abhorrent of the New York Times editorial Board to join in the mocking of Mr. Netanyahu for his wrenching choices, while giving Mr. Abbas a complete ‘pass’ for his celebratory ones.
Sincerely,It's utterly abhorrent for the New York Times to sweep 'Mr. Abbas' support for terrorism under the rug as if it did not exist. But that's consistent with the New York Times ignoring the Holocaust, isn't it? So why should anyone expect better from the anti-Semites at the Times?
Labels: Abu Mazen, anti-Israel media bias, anti-Semitism, Binyamin Netanyahu, Holocaust, New York Times, Palestinian terrorism, Palestinian terrorists
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:13 PM
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