Last update - 12:12 21/09/2005

Help Abbas
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/627244.html
By Haaretz Editorial


In his meetings in New York, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon toned down his
threats that Israel would put a stop to elections in the West Bank if Hamas
candidates take part, after declaring earlier that under such circumstances
Israel would interfere. While in post-disengagement Gaza there is no intention
whatsoever to do so, Israel can easily disrupt elections in the West Bank to
such an extent that it would stop them from taking place. Israel's position is
that participation in elections to the Palestine Legislative Council, which is
the Palestinian Authority's parliament, requires Hamas to disarm and abrogate
its basic manifesto that calls for the political annihilation of Israel. If
Hamas does not do so, Sharon says, Israel will not prevent the elections, but
will give them no support.

Israel's position is logical, correct and justified. Since its establishment
some 17 years ago, the Hamas movement has declared all-out war on the "Zionist
entity," out of a belief that all of Israel is Muslim sacred ground and not
one inch should be given up. To this end the movement initiated and justified
acts of terror and murderous suicide attacks. Even though it has agreed over
the past few months to a cease-fire, it has not given up its declared goals.
Its spokesmen have repeatedly declared that their intent is to pursue violent
struggle. Israel cannot remain indifferent to such vows.

Still, it is hard to ignore that the movement is gaining in popularity in the
Palestinian public. Perhaps Israel should step up its efforts to persuade the
more pragmatic and moderate elements in Hamas, as it did at one time with the
Palestine Liberation Organization, to accept Israel's existence and not to try
to solve conflicts through terror.

According to opinion polls in the Palestinian territories, Hamas' popularity
stems from disappointment with the corrupt system of government of the
Palestinian Authority, and not for other reasons. This popularity worries the
PA chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, as well as his Fatah party and its partners in
government, even more than it worries Israel. The government of Egypt is
concerned about the increased power of Muslim extremists like Hamas. The same
holds true for almost the entire international community.

The concern of Israel and Abbas over Hamas' growing strength is shared by many
parties, among whom cooperation can be created. Abbas has avoided a direct
clash with Hamas, which he believes would result in civil war among the
Palestinians. He is asking to absorb armed Hamas members, numbering about
3,000, into the approximately 40,000 or more Palestinian police and soldiers
in Gaza. Abbas believes that without its military units, Hamas will be
transformed from a terror organization to a political party.

Abbas' plan is unacceptable to the government of Israel. However Israel must
avoid deepening the internal rifts in Palestinian society, and work to
strengthen Abbas as a partner in the diplomatic process. Abbas was elected for
a four-year term as a powerful chairman with wide-ranging authority, and all
processes involving elections to the Palestinian Legislative Council should
and must be coordinated with him.