In Little We Trust
Hamas has never lived up to a single agreement or voided its charter that calls for the destruction of Israel and killing Jews. Why should they be trusted this time?
Trust: “Reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.”
Polls and simple observations show that Americans are placing less trust in institutions and individuals. A Wall Street Journal story notes that the current government “shutdown” has raised the distrust level between the two parties and the president to new heights — or depths.
Trust — or lack thereof — is also an issue in the Middle East. The president is proclaiming peace in the region because Hamas has said it will agree to some of his 20 demands, which include the release of the remaining hostages, living and dead. Hamas has refused to lay down their arms, or agree not to participate in a future Gaza government. Hamas also wants nearly 2,000 terrorist prisoners released from Israeli jails, including convicted murderers. We’ve seen how past bargains have gone with those who seek Israel’s destruction with many returning to the battlefield.
Hamas has never lived up to a single agreement or voided its charter that calls for the destruction of Israel and killing Jews. Why should they be trusted this time? No one knows who is in charge of Hamas or whether they have the authority to speak for the entire terrorist organization after their leadership has been wiped out by Israel’s attacks. Hamas is only one of several terrorist groups that are also untrustworthy and have given no sign they are willing to abandon goals identical to those of Hamas.
After the partial agreement to some of the 20 demands made by the president and agreed to by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahi, Trump told Israel to stop bombing Gaza. Imagine President Franklin Roosevelt agreeing to a deal that would stop the bombing of Japan and not finish off Germany’s Nazi regime. Instead, Roosevelt spoke of “total victory” over those two nations. British Prime Minister Winston Churchill echoed Roosevelt’s goal. Speaking in the House of Commons on May 13, 1940, Churchill said: “You ask what is our aim. I can answer in one word: Victory. Victory at all costs. Victory in spite of all terror. Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory there is no survival.”
Repeat that last part out loud: Without victory there is no survival.
Then, as now, there are factions in the U.S. and Israel that favor negotiating with the enemy. Hamas and its related groups are not only the enemy of Israel, but also the enemy of the U.S. and all “infidel” Western nations.
Negotiations, instead of victory, would allow Hamas to live and fight another day, guaranteeing more death and destruction. Since Gazans elected Hamas to run their government, maybe they should hold a special election that could oust them from office. Not that Hamas would willingly give up their political power, but it might reduce their legitimacy in the eyes of the world.
In reference to the definition above, what has Hamas - or any of Israel’s enemies - done to demonstrate their integrity or why any confidence should be placed in them? The answer is nothing and anyone who believes a deal can be made with the devil is a fool. A quote attributed to writer Kayla Krantz says: “Never make a deal with the devil unless you’re prepared to lose.”
Israel only has to lose once and it is finished as the Jewish state.
The president and Netanyahu should require that all 20 of their demands be met, or Israel should finish the job. Perhaps both. Otherwise, Hamas will survive and keep fighting. That’s the one thing they can be trusted to do.
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