Y'know what? I think the stiff necks in ALL FOUR PARTIES, in the Middle East, in Washington, and HERE need a swift smack to the back of the head.
Hamas needs to realize that they can't continue to hold out without making concessions, this IS true. But the US, Israel and Fatah need to get it through THEIR thick skulls that like it or not, peace in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza WILL NOT HAPPEN WITHOUT HAMAS' PARTICIPATION. I don't like that reality, either, but this obstinacy has stretched BEYOND the point of ludicrousness. The problem is that the IDEALS, however misguided and twisted we find them, Hamas represents are too well-entrenched among many people there, and that is NOT something that can be erased with tanks and bombs.
It's like the US is playing the parent trying to resolve a squabble between three screaming children, but telling the one that's causing most of the problems that he's excluded from the argument and has to sit in the corner while everyone else decides what to do.
Hamas has, unfortunately, advanced beyond a mere militant organization to a full political faction. Like it or not, they WERE the legally elected representatives chosen by the Palestinian people. I do NOT support their positions and believe that they ALSO need to adapt and be willing to listen, but that is NOT going to happen so long as they're shut out of the process altogether. A DECADE of peace efforts should have made that blatantly obvious by now.
Do I think Carter's mission was successful? I have NO idea, because honestly, so long as no one's willing to even TRY to roll the dice there's no way in hell of knowing. Do I think he was right? I have NO idea because no one's willing to put it to the test. Everyone's more interested in screaming accusations of treason, or senility, or socialist affiliations than step back and at least consider. Hamas MAY VERY WELL honor this agreement. Who knows? We DON'T, but that does NOT mean it should be waved off without a second thought because at the very least it opens a door if people ARE willing to LISTEN. Unfortunately that's not the case. There's no way that one side is going to get everything they want out of this, and frankly I'm VERY disgusted with the attacks leveled against someone who's at least willing to risk that same persecution for at least TRYING.
Regardless of whether his efforts were right or in the wrong, at least Carter showed courage in standing up against political dogma and at least LOOKING for another way, however unpopular it might be.
