MidEast Muddle

[smofbabe]

I generally try not to post about MidEast politics given the impassioned feelings on both sides of the issue. But the latest news has me Mightily Confused. The negotiation at a basic level as I understand it is as follows: Israel gives up land and the concomitant security boundary that it provides in exchange for the Palestinians acknowledging Israel's right to exist and promising not to blow Israelis up.

Now that Arafat has died, the Palestinians are going to hold elections to establish a government and that government will negotiate with the Israelis. However, according to reports by AP and other sources, "Hamas and Islamic Jihad do not accept the presence of a Jewish state in the Middle East. They refuse to take part in governments formed as a result of agreements with Israel and say they will not participate in the election."

If that's the case, Israel would be negotiating with people who do not have the ability to stop attacks on Israelis or to recognize Israel on behalf of the people who are perpetuating the violence. Or am I missing something?

Comments

[filkerdave.livejournal.com]

Or am I missing something?

Nope. Got it in one.