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New Jersey Jewish News Story
Room to maneuver
Andrew Silow-Carroll
NJJN Editor-in-Chief
When the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution recommending that the Bush administration refuse to deal with a Hamas-led government, it was a victory for common sense. Israel should not be pressured into acting “diplomatically” toward a government whose ruling party is pledged to its destruction and whose unrepentant terrorist wing is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Israeli civilians. Nor should Israel have to deal directly with a government that does not heed previous agreements — or watch in frustration as an outside power or powers approach Hamas and offer its leaders a shortcut to renouncing terrorism and rejectionism.
At the same time, American-Jewish groups must be judicious in presuming to tell Jerusalem what to do. Israel has decided to withhold the taxes it collects for the Palestinians and impose travel restrictions that would prevent Hamas representatives from reaching legislative sessions. It seems willing, if press reports are to be believed, of seeking ways with the United States to destabilize Hamas rule and perhaps force new elections. These are defensible, principled actions against an avowed enemy.
But Israel has shown time and again that progress is made at the juncture of principle and reality. Israel is well aware of the unintended consequences that could arise should its punitive measures backfire, from an emboldened Hamas terrorist wing to an assertive new presence in the territories by surrounding Arab countries. Some polls in Israel have shown that a surprising number of Israelis believe Israel eventually will, or should, talk to Hamas. Whether they believe those talks should come after Hamas changes, or after the alternative appears worse, is not clear. The point is that the Israeli public has shown that it is willing to embrace nuance and flexibility in diplomacy.
In March, Israeli voters will decide on the party whose approach they prefer. Between now and then, American Jews need to make clear the threat that Hamas poses, while demonstrating their own faith that Israeli leaders are crafting an appropriate response.
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