I think he means “grass roots” movement. Either way, the implications are horrendous: Hamas is to be accepted as is.
“Italian FM: Hamas Significant Part of Palestinian People,” by Barak Ravid for Haaretz:
Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D’Alema said Hamas is a “significant and substantial” part of the Palestinian people, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported Tuesday.
D’Alema expressed fears that isolating Islamic groups like Hezbollah and Hamas will push them towards international terror network al-Qaida.
“Hamas has carried out terror attacks, but it is also a ground roots movement,” he said.
You can’t have it both ways. If Hamas is representative of the people, then view the whole Gaza Strip as Hamas, and give no aid and no assistance. Hamas is, after all, a terrorist organization.
If Hamas is not representative of the people, then there is no need to legitimize it, “ground roots” notwithstanding.
“Not recognizing the government elected democratically is not exactly a lesson in democracy, and pushing such a group into the hands of al-Qaida is not in the international committee’s interest.”
On the contrary, this is the most important lesson in democracy class. Democracy does not give the majority the right to decide whatever it wants. It gives the majority the right to decide between different options that have moral and legal standing. A democracy cannot legitimize murder or rape because the majority wishes to do so. It is still murder. It is still rape. They would still be heinous crimes.
D”Alema is concerned that distancing Hamas would force them into al-Qaeda’s arms. No need to worry”¦Hamas is already there.
Hizballah just enjoyed a visit in France. At this rate, Hamas should receive an Italian invitation very soon.
Crossposted from The American Israeli Patriot.