Disrespecting the Palestinians

The reaction in the West to the recent election of Hamas in Palestine raises serious doubts about our commitment to democracy in the Middle East. The Palestinians hold a free and fair election, mustering a voter turnout much better than ours, and rather than welcome them into the community of democracies we issue ultimatums. If they want to gain our blessing, they must submit to our policies. And if they don’t, we will starve them into submission.

Our government demands three concessions: they must recognize Israel, they must renounce violence, and they must accept previous agreements.

But why should they recognize the state of Israel? Israel doesn't recognize a Palestinian state. This, surely, is something the two scorpions must negotiate.

And why should they renounce violence? Every other government on earth is allowed the right to use violence to defend its people and their land. Demanding the Palestinians renounce violence is tantamount to demanding they surrender. And this while more of their land is being stolen even as I write.

Demanding they accept agreements made by previous Palestinian governments is a bit much coming from a Canadian government threatening to scrap various agreements negotiated between its predecessor and the provinces.

Our government labels Hamas a terrorist organization while in reality it is a Palestinian resistance organization and political party. Does it employ terrorism? Yes, it has been known to do so, as have good friends of ours such as the United States, and of course we have good relationships with governments, such as China's, that practice terrorism against their own people. And how else does an occupied people fight back? My answer is passive resistance but then I haven't been subjected to 50 years of conquest, ethnic cleansing, occupation, and humiliation.

By punishing the Palestinians for their electoral choice we disrespect them and we disrespect democracy. If we disagree with their government, and we have good cause to do so, let's initiate discussion not hurl threats. The Palestinians have been disrespected for fifty years; nonetheless, they have opted for democracy. That, we are duty bound to honour.