US Reaction To Israel's Attcak on Hamas Leader

Submitted by Lindsey Binnie (United States), Jun 10, 2003 at 13:47

Mr. Pipes: It would appear that your exhortation to the US to not follow the Oslo 'failures' has not been heard, or understood, if the White House reaction today by Ari Fleischer to the Israeli attack is any example. For the President to condemn this attack by Israel, a scant 24 hours after Hamas has publicly repudiated the "Road Map" process and its own Prime Minister - the one who promised to crack down on terrorism - sends the completely wrong message.

The President, quite rightly, has sanctioned force and assassinatiion against terrorists in Yemen, Afghanistan and Iraq. For Israel to allow this Hamas leader to continue to foment violence is tantamount to a renunciation of what you have already posed :

" The White House last fall established a "zero tolerance" policy for Iraqi violations of U.N. resolutions; it must do likewise today with the Palestinians: Any incitement or sanctioned violence stops the process cold."

Adherence to this standard was, is and will continue to be the only way this can work. There are plenty of other 'obstacles' in the road anyway but this is fundamental!

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