Washington rallies behind Abbas with end to Palestinian boycott
The US has lifted its political and economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority now that it has managed to assist in the dismantling of the Hamas government who the Palestinians chose as their democratic representatives.
The only thing that I can say about the US decision is that they are lifting the embargo on Gaza as well as on the West Bank and that this is to be welcomed, even if the message that Bush claims to be attempting to push - that democracy is a fine thing for country's in the Middle East to embrace - has been hideously undermined by the treatment that has been meted out to the Palestinians for daring to make a choice that the West disagreed with.
In most other situations, and I'm thinking specifically about Northern Ireland, terrorist groups entering the political process has always been seen as a step forward and something to be encouraged. Sinn Fein were standing for seats in Northern Ireland at a time when the IRA were still blowing up the British mainland, but nevertheless, their engagement with the political process was always seen as something that should be welcomed as an alternative to their terrorist activities. The logic being that entering the political process would eventually bring them a legitimacy that their terrorist activities currently denied them and that they would eventually lay down their arms.
Indeed, the irony of Israel refusing to have anything to do with a "terrorist" group belies her own history, where the Irgun, Haganah and the Lehi all engaged in terrorist activities in order to ensure Israel's formation. Indeed, many of these groups were assimilated into the new Israeli state.
So the situation regarding the election of Hamas and the subsequent boycott of the Hamas goverment was a highly unusual one. Normally, such a group entering the political process would be seen as a step forward and something to be encouraged. The Israelis, however, viewed this as a danger. They had become used to dealing with Abbas and were keen to negotiate with him regarding the settlements in the West Bank as they felt he would be much more malleable to some settlements remaining than would members of any Hamas administration. It was with this in mind that the Palestinians went to the polls.
They decided that their long term interests would best be guarded by electing Hamas to represent them at this period, a move which enraged Israel and the US who immediately set out to bring down the democratically elected government.
And make no mistake, this is why the hypocrisy of the US resonates so loudly throughout the Middle East. It is one thing for the US to say we will not deal with this administration, it is quite another to impose sanctions and for Israel to withhold Palestinian tax revenue in an attempt to overturn a democratically elected government. And that is what we have witnessed. At a time when the US is singing democracy's praises it is also demonstrating that it does not believe in democracy's fundamental cornerstone. Namely, that people will elect governments that best serve their interests.
In this case, the interests of the Palestinians - namely, the hanging on to the 22% of historic Palestine that is left to them - was contrary to the wishes of Washington and Tel Aviv, as Bush had already told Sharon that there were "facts on the ground", a reference to the illegal Israeli West Bank settlements which Bush wanted Sharon to be able to keep.
So, behind the "we will not deal with terrorists" rhetoric, there was a darker reasoning for Bush and Olmert's insistence that they would not deal with Hamas, and that reasoning was a desire to legitimise an illegal Israeli land grab. Something that Abbas might allow them and which Hamas certainly would not. This is how Abbas has become known as a "moderate".
"Moderates" give Israel what she wants. Anyone who doesn't is an "extremist".
Rice said the following:
I welcome this statement that the people of Gaza will also have their hideous punishment brought to an end. However, I take exception to Rice's claim that there is "one Palestinian people with one leadership and that was headed by Mr Abbas".Ms Rice said the US believed there was one Palestinian people with one leadership and that was headed by Mr Abbas. But she pledged not to turn her back on Gaza. "We are not going to leave 1.5 million Palestinians at the mercy of a terrorist organisation... We are not going to abandon the Palestinians who are living in Gaza.
Ms Rice said the $40m would be distributed via the UN Relief and Works Agency.
The Palestinians haven't voted for that. And, as Bush thinks democracy is the answer to all the Middle East's ills, I have only one question: When's the election?
I mean, Washington are going to insist on one, aren't they?
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