 |
Blustering Fools on Fox News Reveal Ignorance on Middle East |
 |
Earlier today on Fox News Sunday, Chris Wallace, Bill Kristol, Juan Williams and two others were discussing the situation in Gaza. Juan Williams argued that Hamas (which was elected to power in Gaza) ought to be removed, presumably by force, saying “if you really want peace, you cannot have people who do not acknowledge the legitimacy of Israel.”
I realize we can all get a bit overheated during political discussions, but how is it that no one on the show pointed out the vacuousness of Williams’s assertion? As others have pointed out, you don’t make peace with your friends. And, history in the Middle East tells us that it is possible for Israel to make peace even with those who do not acknowledge its legitmacy–I’m speaking of Egypt, and Jordan, each of which entered into agreements (in 1977 and 1994, respectively) resulting in their recognizing Israel’s legitimacy.
None of this is a cheer for Hamas–I am not praising or endorsing this group in any way. All I am saying is that Williams is flat wrong to suggest that Israel cannot make peace with those who do not acknowledge its legitmacy. Those are exactly the people with whom peace must be made. It seems ridiculous, at the moment, to speak of peace. But it’s worth pointing out when commentators offer bogus reasons as to why peace is not possible.
It was the All Fools’ Day today on talk shows, then. I watched in amazement at This Week when Mitch McConnell twice said that half of Americans were represented by Republicans in the Senate, and George Stefanopolis said not one word about the facts, which are far from that’s being the case.
good catch Ruth. I didn’t see McConnell–that is just sad, and he said it twice?