Over the weekend the South African media took an overtly critical stance against Israel's decision to halt funding to the Hamas led Palestinian Authority.
An editorial at the Wall Street Journal makes an important point.
| We agree that the results of the Palestinian parliamentary elections must be "respected," in the narrow sense that they reflect the outcome of a lawful democratic process. But just because something is respected does not make it respectable: Recall the diplomatic quarantine the European Union slapped on Austria in 2000 when elections there put the proto-fascist Freedom Party in government. |
I really don't recall the South African media crying about the EU's decision to isolate Austria after the fascist and badly named Freedom Party won the elections in 2000.
Why the hypocrisy?
I beg to disagree with that "the results of the Palestinian parliamentary elections must be respected" clause.
People who elected whoever they elected may want to respect their own choice. Outsiders, however, have no such obligation.
Best regards.
Posted by: SnoopyTheGoon | February 21, 2006 at 19:26
I think the point he was trying to make that Hamas is now legitimately the official representative of the Palestinian people. We may not like what they stand for and choose not to deal with them, but can’t deny that they are legally in charge of the PA
Posted by: mike | February 22, 2006 at 08:26