Hamas and the PFLP have rejected all the agreements signed between Israel and the PLO, including the Oslo Accords. Yet, these terrorist groups have no problem running in an election held under the umbrella of the Oslo Accords.
[I]t is already evident that some of them have no intention of complying with the wishes of the State Department about "renouncing violence and terrorism" or accepting the "two-state solution."
Representatives of some of the lists running in the election, in fact, are promising the exact opposite. They are saying that they are committed to continuing the fight against Israel and have absolutely no intention of recognizing Israel's right to exist.
These Palestinians oppose any recognition of Israel's right to exist; they oppose any form of normalization with Israel; they oppose any peace talks with Israel and have repeatedly denounced any peace process with Israel as an act of treason.
Abu Zuhri and the Hamas leadership are sending the following message to the State Department spokesman: If you think Hamas will renounce violence and terrorism or accept the so-called two-state solution, you are sadly deluding yourself.
This dangerous exploitation of the Oslo Accords, however, does not seem to bother the US administration or the European Union when they talk about the need for the Palestinians to have free and democratic elections.
Like Hamas, the PFLP also vowed to pursue the fight against Israel "until the liberation of all of Palestine" -- in other words, all of Israel.
Under the current circumstances, it seems that Palestinians who support terrorism and do not accept the "two-state solution" are headed toward dominating the next Palestinian parliament and government.
Now that the Hamas and the PFLP candidates have been approved by the Central Elections Commission, the US or the rest of the international community can prevent this plot from materializing by making it clear that they will not recognize any future Palestinian government with terrorists. This demand should be made before, not after the elections.
Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine have rejected all the agreements signed between Israel and the PLO, including the Oslo Accords. Yet, these terrorist groups have no problem running in an election held under the umbrella of the Oslo Accords. Pictured: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh votes in the Palestinian legislative election on January 25, 2006, in Gaza City. (Photo by Abid Katib/Getty Images)
During a press briefing on April 1, US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price talked about the upcoming Palestinian elections and the "two-state solution." On the elections, the first in 15 years, Price said:
"The exercise of democratic elections is a matter for the Palestinian people to determine. We note that the US and other key partners in the international community have long been clear about the importance of participants in that democratic process, renouncing violence and renouncing terrorism, recognizing Israel's right to exist."
On recognizing Israel's right to exist, Price said:
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