Are the Palestinians serious about the good governance that will help win the trust of Israel? It hardly seems so, when they appoint a Minister with disturbingly strong ties to Hamas: Palestinian Authority Minister of Economy Tied to Hamas?
It turns out the Mazen Sunuqrut, appointed as the Minister of Economy, has close, longstanding ties to Hamas.
But the February 26 suicide bombing in Tel Aviv is clear evidence of the need to isolate, not co-opt, extremist elements like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, which are bent on undermining efforts to secure a peaceful, two-state solution. Placing a man described as a “Hamas activist,” someone with a record of laundering funds for the organization, in charge of the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy is a step in the wrong direction.
UPDATE
MediaBackspin comments on the level of control the PA has on governance.
Reporter Greg Myre notes internal Palestinian fighting, a car bomb, the discovery of a weapons lab, another weapons seizure, the Tel Aviv bombing, and the attempted assassination of the PA’s own Interior Minister.
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