No Comparison
In Leonard Fein’s December 4 column, “It’s Time for Dialogue With Hamas,” he compares the PLO with Hamas. But, while the PLO is a secular organization motivated by nationalism, Hamas, an extreme fundamentalist group, is motivated by religion.
Fein should read the prologue of Hamas’ founding charter. It states that Hamas’ aim is a war — not against Israel or Zionism but against the Jewish people at large, since the Jews, and not merely Israel and Zionism, are the enemies of Islam.
According to Hamas, the Jews are responsible for all the ills of modern society — the French revolution; the Communist revolution; the establishment of secret associations designed to help them gain control of the world by secret means. They control the economy, press and television; they are responsible for the outbreak of World War I and World War II. They use both capitalism and communism as their agents.
Following the reconciliation discussions between Hamas and the PLO, Hamas leader and founder, Dr. Mahmood al-Zahar, said: “Our program does not include negotiations with Israel or recognizing it.” This is the same person who recently said: “Palestine means Palestine in its entirety — from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River. We cannot give up a single inch of it. Therefore, we will not recognize the Israeli enemy’s right to a single inch.” I hope Fein succeeds to start the dialogue, but I am afraid it will be fruitless.
Jacob Amir
Jerusalem
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
