Israel's ambassador to the United Nations this
week linked the Hamas-led Palestinian government to Iran and to what
he called a new "axis of terror." His words are a sign of stepped
up rhetoric and pressure on the Palestinian government, especially after
last Monday's suicide bombing in Tel Aviv.
Hamas has been under pressure since its surprise election
victory in late January. Israel and the United States said from
the outset they would not deal with an organization they have designated
as a terrorist group. Europe soon followed suit, and all three cut off
any direct flow of funds to the Palestinian Authority once Hamas took
over.
The hope was that this external pressure would make
Hamas moderate its position, renounce violence, recognize Israel and
support the peace process. But Hamas has remained defiant, and
even came out in defense of a young bomber linked with the militant
group, Islamic Jihad, who blew himself up in central Tel Aviv.
Instead of condemning the bombing, Hamas leaders said it was an act
of self defense caused by Israel's occupation.
That infuriated Israel, and its ambassador, Dan Gillerman,
issued a warning to his colleagues at the United Nations.
"A dark cloud is looming over our
region, and it is metastasizing as a result of the statements and actions
by leaders of Iran, Syria and the newly-elected government of the Palestinian
Authority," he said.
Ambassador Gillerman likened these statements and actions
to, what he termed, "a declaration of war." He
warned that, if the world sits still and does nothing to root out this
danger, it will threaten everyone.
"As this axis of evil and terror
sows the seeds of the first world war of the 21st century,"
he added.
Senior Palestinian politician and peace negotiator,
Saeb Erekat tells VOA, the Palestinians are not part of any axis.
"We [the Palestinians] are a people under occupation,
under Israeli occupation," he said. "We are a people, who are
seeking to have peace with Israel, through negotiations, and we hope
that the Israelis will stop scoring points and finger-pointing, because
we are not part of any axis in the region, whether Iran or anybody else."
Some critics say that Hamas leaders have brought increasing
hardships and isolation for Palestinians by sticking to their hard line,
and visiting places like Iran, whose president has repeatedly called
for Israel's destruction, and who continues to defy the West over his
country's development of nuclear technology.
Hamas officials have been touring the region to seek
funding to bail their government out of the financial crisis, caused
by the aid cuts from Europe and America.
But, there is also something else at play, says Palestinian
political analyst Mehdi Abdel Hadi, of the Passia research center in
Jerusalem.
"They [Hamas] see this opportunity of awakening of the
sleeping horses in the region - i.e., the Islamic movement in Syria,
Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, and Palestine is no exception," he said.
Abdel Hadi sees in Ambassador Gillerman's words a reaction
that goes back to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September
11, 2001.
"I think it's part of the Islam-ophobia that goes back
to the 11th of September. The idea has been to link the Iranians, the
Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, as well as Hamas in Palestine," he explained.
Abdel Hadi says it is a mistake to automatically link
Islamic groups to terrorism. He says their rise is part of democratic
change in the region, and he says their militancy could be seen as a
transitional phase.
Not everyone agrees. Critics say Islamic groups
are using the ballot box to come to power, and to enforce their own
vision on the rest of the people.
Many Palestinians fear that, as Hamas maintains its
hard line, it risks financial, and possibly political collapse, along
with increasing chaos.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat says Hamas should
recognize previous peace accords with Israel, and should agree to President
Mahmoud Abbas's plan for future negotiations. When asked if there
is any indication of that happening, he says only, "I hope so."
Israel Warns U.N. of World War
by Axis of Terror
18:23
Apr 20, '06 / 22 Nisan 5766
by
|
(IsraelNN.com) Dan Gillerman,
Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, warned the world
body this week that Iran, Syria and the Hamas-led Palestinian
Authority (PA) are forming an "an axis of terror" which could
spark a world war.
The trio's statements defending Monday's suicide bombing in
Tel Aviv "are clear declarations of war, and I urge each and
every one of you to listen carefully and take them at face value,"
said Gillerman
The PA observer at the U.N. condemned the bombing but attacked
Israel for stating that its military reaction is a response
to Arab violence. Instead, Riyad Mansour denounced Israel for
"willful killing and injury of civilians |