Silver Lining in Hamas Win

I have always lived my life believing that every dark cloud has a silver lining. Admittedly it has been hard to find that silver lining in the tragic results of last week's Palestinian election, where the terrorist organization Hamas won control of the Palestinian government. However sad or shameful you want to view the election results, the silver lining is truth and honesty. The world can say without a doubt that the Palestinian people do not want a two-state solution. They want a middle-east with no Israel.

Last week in my commentary "Knock, Knock..The Chickens Have Come Home," I asked the question "did Hamas win because the majority of Palestinians do not want a two-state solution, but will only settle for the destruction of Israel?" At the time I said I didn't know the answer, but in reality I think I was afraid to admit to myself the truth.

Before we are anything we are all human beings. In my case I am also a Jew and a father. This is the core of my being and that is why it is hard to accept the notion that there are people in the world who would like nothing more than to reopen the concentration camps and finish the job Adolf Hitler started. As horrible as this previous statement is I know it is true. History proves nothing is more dangerous than denying the truth, especially if the only interest of your so-called partner for peace is your annihilation.

I would like to believe that the silver lining of a Hamas government will also be that the political left or self labeled "progressives" will also learn from their past ignorance. However, I know better and I'm sure sooner rather than later we will see university professors leading protests on college campuses demanding the world recognize the Hamas lead Palestinian government. The same academia leftists will also blame Israel for stalled peace talks. The fact that Hamas won't even recognize Israel's right to exist or would only talk with Israel through a 3rd party won't even phase these self proclaimed intellectuals.

The easiest prediction will be that former President Jimmy Carter will meet with Hamas, make excuses for their violence and demand the United States no longer view them as a terrorist group. Carter will also demand the U.S. resume financial support. Most of Europe and the United Nations will repeat history and give in to terrorism and restart financial aid. The Democratic Party in fear of losing Jewish political contributions will stay firm and support President Bush as he cuts off aid and demands that Hamas renounce violence and recognize Israels right to exist. Eventually Howard Dean will put his foot in his mouth and make an attempt to gain political points and blame the Bush administration on a failed road map. However, even a political incompetent such as Dean will learn from his mistakes and not refer to Hamas as "freedom fighters".

Right now we are hearing many individuals on both sides of the political spectrum say the silver lining will be that Hamas will have to actually set up a full functioning government. These well-intentioned politicians and pundits forget that Hamas can always fall back on the oldest excuse in history..."Blame the Jews!" When Hamas fails to create jobs or provide basic humanitarian needs, they will simply blame Israel and use it as a rallying cry to escalate violence and recruit suicide bombers. If I recall history tells us of another organization that blamed Jews for hard economic times. They were called the National Socialist German Workers Party, better known as the Nazi Party of Germany.

I don't have to remind you how that turned out for Jews and the world.