Although I disagree with his conclusion regarding Fatah, Jeffrey Goldberg does a good job of explaining why Hamas’ position is intractable, why “Hamas cannot be cajoled into moderation.”
Normally I refrain from addressing anything Thomas Friedman says. His foolish theories, backed by his immature optimism, are rarely worthy of comment. His basic assumption is that everyone is a rational actor, and that everyone weighs all the variables in every situation in the same way he does.
Unlike Goldberg’s actual researched conclusion regarding Hamas, this is what Friedman had to say about Hamas in Gaza, not based on much: “If it is out to educate Hamas, Israel may have achieved its aims. Now its focus, and the Obama team’s focus, should be on creating a clear choice for Hamas for the world to see: Are you about destroying Israel or building Gaza?”
Friedman insults all actors in the region by thinking that the following has any resemblance to reality: “Hamas has to signal a willingness to assume responsibility for a lasting cease-fire and to abandon efforts to change the strategic equation with Israel by deploying longer and longer range rockets.”
UPDATE: Noam Scheiber points out one of Goldberg’s most enlightening points, regarding the results of the competition between the terrorist organizations who are dedicated to Israel’s demise.
I thought of a good career for Tom Friedman – he should flip McShawarma Burgers in the new McDonald’s that opens in Jabalya. Since they’ll have a McDonald’s, they’ll all suddenly stop wanting to kill us.