The Arab Reaction

Reuters via NYT: Arabs See US Changing Stance on Hamas

It seems like they're keeping as quiet as the Israeli government is. However, Arab commentators are saying that the United States and Israel will have to alter their approach to Hamas.

``The Americans will start secret contacts with Hamas and in fact they have already started. But in the first moments they will exert public pressure to try to make Hamas change some of its ideas,'' added Diaa Rashwan, an Egyptian specialist on Islamist movements in the Middle East.

Forgive me if I find that hard to believe. Until Hamas recognizes Israel as a state, I don't see Israel, the US, or the EU doing much negotiating, secret or not, with Hamas. There's a longstanding policy in the United States not the negotiate with terrorist organizations. It's a pretty clear extension of that policy to not deal with terrorist states.

Even more silly was this gem:

``The (Palestinian) voters have answered Israeli extremism with a Palestinian counterpart and I believe only those more extreme sides will produce peace,'' said Anani.

Forgive me if I find it skeptical that fighting fire with fire will bring peace.