Hamas: Hey, just ignore that charter, ‘cuz it’s old or something

posted at 11:36 am on May 6, 2009 by Ed Morrissey

Hamas wants an extremist makeover.  Khaled Meshal, who just won another four-year term as Hamas’ head terrorist, gave his first interview to an American media outlet in a year, and tells the New York Times that Hamas has changed.  Not enough to actually change, of course, but just trust them when they say they’re no longer annihilationist:

The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now. He also reached out in a limited way to the Obama administration and others in the West, saying the movement was seeking a state only in the areas Israel won in 1967.

“I promise the American administration and the international community that we will be part of the solution, period,” the leader, Khaled Meshal, said during a five-hour interview with The New York Times spread over two days in his home office here in the Syrian capital.

Speaking in Arabic in a house heavily guarded by Syrian and Palestinian security agents, Mr. Meshal, 53, gave off an air of serene self-confidence, having been re-elected a fourth time to a four-year term as the leader of the Hamas political bureau, the top position in the movement. His conciliation went only so far, however. He repeated that he would not recognize Israel, saying to fellow Arab leaders, “There is only one enemy in the region, and that is Israel.”

But he urged outsiders to ignore the Hamas charter, which calls for the obliteration of Israel through jihad and cites as fact the infamous anti-Semitic forgery, “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” Mr. Meshal did not offer to revoke the charter, but said it was 20 years old, adding, “We are shaped by our experiences.”

He explained why he was giving the interview, his first to an American news organization in a year, by saying: “To understand Hamas is to listen to its vision directly. Hamas is delighted when people want to hear from its leaders directly, not about the movement through others.”

Yes, don’t pay any attention to our basic founding document.  It no longer represents our views, although we refuse to change or replace it.  Think of it as … a tradition.  Kind of like killing Jews and blaming them for all of our own stupidity.  Yeah, that’s the ticket!

Meshal is smart enough to know that Obama wants an excuse to engage with Hamas, and Meshal will go just far enough to offer it.  Obama had to get rid of Robert Malley, one of his closest foreign-policy advisers, when Malley’s meetings with Hamas became public.  However, Malley has reportedly continued working for Obama on an informal basis, giving Hamas some hope of capturing the new American president’s ear.

Even if the rocket attacks have stopped — and I’m not sure that’s the case — Hamas has stopped and restarted them before.  They didn’t stop them out of humanitarian concerns, but for political expediency.  The “ignore our charter” argument is just the same old political kabuki terrorists from Hamas have used for years.  If they want a two-state solution, then they need to commit to it by ending violence and reflecting it in their organizational statements.  Otherwise, this is just another con from a master aimed at a novice.

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Great Obama has achieved peace in our time.

Tommy_G on May 6, 2009 at 11:39 AM

Hey, hamas, you have a homeland. It is called Jordan. Go there and try to get along this time.

Vashta.Nerada on May 6, 2009 at 11:40 AM

Oh, see? All that ‘itbach al-yahud’ stuff? Totes kidding and junk.
It’s tradition!! Tradition…. Tradition!!! (now I have a Fiddler on the Roof Song in my head. Irony)

mjk on May 6, 2009 at 11:44 AM

Yes, don’t pay any attention to our basic founding document. It no longer represents our views, although we refuse to change or replace it.

Talk about appealing to Obama!

WashJeff on May 6, 2009 at 11:46 AM

There is not Palestinian for a solution that involves live Jews and a viable Jewish state.

TheUnrepentantGeek on May 6, 2009 at 11:47 AM

A terrorist ,is a terrorist, is a terrorist.

capejasmine on May 6, 2009 at 11:47 AM

Oh boy did that get mangled. PIMF

Meant to say:

There is no Palestinian solution that involves live Jews and a viable Jewish state.

TheUnrepentantGeek on May 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM

Yes, don’t pay any attention to our basic founding document. It no longer represents our views, although we refuse to change or replace it.

Talk about appealing to Obama!

WashJeff on May 6, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Well played. I was going to say that sounds like Libs and the Constitution.

mountaineer for liberty on May 6, 2009 at 11:48 AM

Hey! Lets believe what Muslims say!

BL@KBIRD on May 6, 2009 at 11:49 AM

This situation is insane. It’s like Mexico demanding back Texas and the world demanding we comply.

TheBlueSite on May 6, 2009 at 11:50 AM

When did we decide to interview terrorists in a good light?

How dumb is the Media?

upinak on May 6, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Is anybody having any doubts as to with whom Obama’s sympathies lie in the Mid-East?

kingsjester on May 6, 2009 at 11:54 AM

The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now.

Hamas stops attacking for a moment, and in return Israel unilaterally disarms. Who here thinks the White House won’t jump all over a deal like that?

logis on May 6, 2009 at 11:56 AM

Khaled Meshal, who just won another four-year term as Hamas’ head terrorist

I’m surprised Israel killed this guy yet.

CP on May 6, 2009 at 11:57 AM

I’m surprised Israel killed this guy yet.

CP on May 6, 2009 at 11:57 AM

Surprised they haven’t killed him yet, I mean.

CP on May 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

Surprised they haven’t killed him yet, I mean.

CP on May 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

Sounds like he’s been hiding out in Syria. Wonder if he’s ever been to Palestine.

Count to 10 on May 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM

So I watched Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) last weekend. First time I ever saw it. Had never heard of it; it just happened to be on and got my attention. Good thing to see — especially given stuff like this news item….

apostic on May 6, 2009 at 12:01 PM

So despite the fact that Jews, prior to 1948, spent hard earned money BUYING the land now called Israel, they’re just supposed to give it up to thugs in order to bring peace to the region?

Unlike most in the west, and similar to most in the Islamic world, I have a long memory and will NOT forget the statement in Hamas charter about the destruction of Israel because (and I may be wrong here) wasn’t there something said about the destruction of the United States as well or is that just a mantra repeated but not necessarily written down? Either way: just because a snake smiles and speaks platitudes it doesn’t mean it’s a friend. Don’t embrace it!

Driefromseattle on May 6, 2009 at 12:02 PM

Gettin yo taqqiyya on, eh my ikhwan?

blatantblue on May 6, 2009 at 12:03 PM

Yes, don’t pay any attention to our basic founding document. It no longer represents our views,

With that kind of thinking soon they will be able to achive the same level of greatness America is on course to achive.

heshtesh on May 6, 2009 at 12:03 PM

HUH?
Ok, here’s the obvious point in all of this. We are supposed to believe the terrorists becuase even though they’ve had the same doctrine for hundreds of years and have lied before (ya know to achieve jihad or something) they aren’t lying now and we should believe them.

Sure, now we can all disarm.
Liberalism isn’t the only mental disease.

ORconservative on May 6, 2009 at 12:05 PM

The savages turned down a two-state solution back when Arafat still drew a breath. Settling down is simply not in their plan. The Messiah apparently missed that. They probably didn’t report it on ESPN.

n0doz on May 6, 2009 at 12:06 PM

“We are shaped by our experiences.”

Likewise.

exception on May 6, 2009 at 12:06 PM

From May 1, 2009:

The Hamas spokesperson concluded with a prayer, saying: “Oh Allah, vanquish the Jews and their supporters. Oh Allah, count their numbers, and kill them all, down to the very last one. Oh Allah, show them a day of darkness. Oh Allah, who sent down His Book, the mover of the clouds, who defeated the enemies of the Prophet, defeat the Jews and the Americans, and bring us victory over them.”

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:07 PM

How dumb is the Media?

upinak on May 6, 2009 at 11:53 AM

As dumb as they need to be when it serves their purposes.

Look! There’s a cheesburger!

Greg Toombs on May 6, 2009 at 12:09 PM

April 19, 2009:

According to the Hamas interpretation of Islam, the Jews are inherently evil, seek to rule the world, and are a threat to Muslims and all of humanity. Therefore they are destined to extermination. In the words of Hamas religious leader Ziad Abu Alhaj, “Hatred for Muhammad and Islam is in their [Jews'] souls, they are naturally disposed to it…”

He asserts that because of the Jews’ inherent evil, the Jewish state, “Israel … is a cancer that wants to rule the world.” One can find the details of the Jews’ plan in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which he jokingly refers to as “The Protocols of the Imbeciles of Zion” (a play on words in Arabic). He concludes that the Jews are destined to be annihilated:

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:11 PM

Ah, so their charter is a “living document”.

LibTired on May 6, 2009 at 12:14 PM

The following is the text of the Hamas spokesman’s call for genocide of Jews:

The Hamas spokesman, Dr. Ismail Radwan, PA TV, March 30, 2007 -

The Hour [Resurrection] will not take place until the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them, and the rock and the tree will say: “Oh, Muslim, servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, kill him!”

We must remind our Arab and Muslim nation, its leaders and people, its scholars and students, remind them that Palestine and the Al Aqsa mosque will not be liberated through summits nor by international resolutions, but it will be liberated through the rifle. It will not be liberated through negotiations, but through the rifle, since this occupation knows no language but the language of force… O Allah, strengthen Islam and Muslims, and bring victory to your Jihad-fighting worshipers, in Palestine and everywhere… Allah take the oppressor Jews and Americans and their supporters!

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:14 PM

well, hey, michael vick is the new spokesman for PETA. everything is possible.

kelley in virginia on May 6, 2009 at 12:15 PM

Sheik Ahmad Bahr, acting Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, declared during a Friday sermon at a Sudan mosque that America and Israel will be annihilated and called upon Allah to kill Jews and Americans “to the very Last One”. Following are excerpts from the sermon that took place last month, courtesy of MEMRI.

Ahmad Bahr began: “You will be victorious” on the face of this planet. You are the masters of the world on the face of this planet. Yes, [the Koran says that] “you will be victorious,” but only “if you are believers.” Allah willing, “you will be victorious,” while America and Israel will be annihilated. I guarantee you that the power of belief and faith is greater than the power of America and Israel. They are cowards, who are eager for life, while we are eager for death for the sake of Allah. That is why America’s nose was rubbed in the mud in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Somalia, and everywhere.

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:17 PM

He repeated that he would not recognize Israel, saying to fellow Arab leaders, “There is only one enemy in the region, and that is Israel.”

Didn’t anyone catch this nugget? It’s not just the document, it’s the sentiment as well.

Big John on May 6, 2009 at 12:18 PM

Obama is pretty good at ignoring our own founding documents so it is pretty clear this is a smart tack to take with him.

The Hamas Charter is a living document! It needs people with empathy to interpret it!

How long until Obama is out of office again? It feels like centuries of torture since the inauguration!

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:07 PM

Hey, maybe congress would add “hate prayer” to that new legislation that’s about to voted on!

petunia on May 6, 2009 at 12:18 PM

“I promise the American administration and the international community that we will be part of the FINAL solution, period,” the leader, Khaled Meshal,

A word got dropped there.

Do not trust a snake to change its ways.

rbj on May 6, 2009 at 12:18 PM

The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now.

Just give us what we want, then we can hit even better targets.

Obama the great capitulator-in-chief will no doubt grant these wishes.

kirkill on May 6, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Just words…just speeches…

Christian Conservative on May 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM

Even the NYT did an article on this, calling incitement to genocide “insults”.

In Gaza, Hamas’s Insults to Jews Complicate Peace

By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: April 1, 2008

…For example, in a column in the weekly Al Risalah, Sheik Yunus al-Astal, a Hamas legislator and imam, discussed a Koranic verse suggesting that “suffering by fire is the Jews’ destiny in this world and the next.”

“The reason for the punishment of burning is that it is fitting retribution for what they have done,” Mr. Astal wrote on March 13. “But the urgent question is, is it possible that they will have the punishment of burning in this world, before the great punishment” of hell? Many religious leaders believe so, he said, adding, “Therefore we are sure that the holocaust is still to come upon the Jews.”

At the end, Mr. Marcus points out, Mr. Astal switches from “harik,” the ordinary word for burning, to “mahraka,” normally used to connote the Holocaust…

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Hmas took responsibility for mortar fire this morning. Meshaal claimed he had been misquoted.

Never mind.

Carl in Jerusalem on May 6, 2009 at 12:32 PM

Even the NYT did an article on this, calling incitement to genocide “insults”.

Beagle on May 6, 2009 at 12:24 PM

Wait until the NY Times is no longer needed and they’re staff are taken away to the insult chambers.

Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 12:33 PM

“I promise the American administration and the international community that we will be part of the solution, period,” the leader, Khaled Meshal, said during a five-hour interview with The New York Times spread over two days in his home office here in the Syrian capital.

New York Times Slimes will cover this guy but not T.E.A. parties? Hey Pinch buddy boy, Old Sport, YOU SUCK!

Branch Rickey on May 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM

Is anybody having any doubts as to with whom Obama’s sympathies lie in the Mid-East?

kingsjester on May 6, 2009 at 11:54 AM

yes, i am terribly confused because i was led to believe that obama is not a muslim. oh, i’m kidding, i don’t have my head up my ass and i know exactly where his sympathies lie.

Ghoul aid on May 6, 2009 at 12:34 PM

… suffering by fire is the Jews’ destiny in this world and the next.

– Sheik Yunus al-Astal

We will convey our deep appreciation for the Islamic faith, which has done so much over the centuries to shape the world, including in my own country.

– President Obama

Loxodonta on May 6, 2009 at 12:37 PM

wow. it’s seems that right after the first 100 days in office, the train goes right off the track.

Ghoul aid on May 6, 2009 at 12:40 PM

Mr. Meshal, 53, gave off an air of serene self-confidence

Is it just me, or does this sound like the exact same language the NYT uses to describe Barak Obama?

Anyway, why not ignore the Hamas Charter? I have no problem just paying attention to everything they’ve ever said and done in the twenty years since they signed and ratified it.

…Oh, wait. They’re really asking us to ignore all of that too, aren’t they?

logis on May 6, 2009 at 12:42 PM

The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now.
Just give us what we want, then we can hit even better targets.

Obama the great capitulator-in-chief will no doubt grant these wishes.

kirkill on May 6, 2009 at 12:19 PM

Chicago style politics. Obama knows all about that kind of thing.

petunia on May 6, 2009 at 12:43 PM

Hmas took responsibility for mortar fire this morning. Meshaal claimed he had been misquoted.

Never mind.

Carl in Jerusalem on May 6, 2009 at 12:32 PM

If people at the Times could feel shame, they would at this. As it is they are so in the tank for everything evil in the world they are past feeling.

petunia on May 6, 2009 at 12:49 PM

Meshal’s willing to have a truce with Israel for only 10 years.

Read this at Soccer Dad.

Attila (Pillage Idiot) on May 6, 2009 at 12:52 PM

Yea, Obama will fall for it as usual. I mean a community organizer always talks to every group to achieve a compromise. However I would expect that no groups community organizers deal with preach annihilation of those they oppose. But, hey, trust Hamas’ word even if they have never lived up to it before. Idiot.

It becomes harder and harder to believe Obama will not stumble into a nuclear war and get most of us killed. This man is dangerous as well as an idiot.

Oh, no, I just remembered that if the Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act passes, it can be applied retroactively to me now. That would be unconstitutional, but I believe my jailers would allow an appeal don’t you think.

amr on May 6, 2009 at 1:11 PM

…But he urged outsiders to ignore the Hamas charter…

Stop looking at the charter & give us 900 million US dollars!

batterup on May 6, 2009 at 1:15 PM

Mr. Meshal, 53, gave off an air of serene self-confidence, having been re-elected a fourth time to a four-year term as the leader of the Hamas political bureau, the top position in the movement.

Sounds like the Times loves him as much as Obama. I wish I subscribed so I could cancel

Ann on May 6, 2009 at 1:17 PM

Yes, but just one correction for Khaled,
“Hamass will be part of the FINAL SOLUTION” of the Jewish State, which Hamass will never recognize. The most Hamass will do is propose a Hudna for ten years only if Israel goes back to the pre-1967 borders. And we all saw with the Taliban in Pakistan what they think about Hudnas with infidels.
The ten year hudna plan is part and parcel of these genocidal maniacs’ belief that within ten years, if Israel is forced to pre67 borders, the pfakistinians with the help of Iran will be strong enough to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth.
I believe we should not give them the opportunity to put that goal into practice based upon the deceitful statements of its terror chief. Unfortunately we have a bumbler in chief who appears only to willing to sacrifice Israel for the lies of its enemies.

eaglewingz08 on May 6, 2009 at 1:26 PM

When did we decide to interview terrorists in a good light?

How dumb is the Media?

upinak on May 6, 2009 at 11:53 AM

Oh no you didn’t!

ladyingray on May 6, 2009 at 1:27 PM

kelley in virginia on May 6, 2009 at 12:15 PM

What? Vick is spokesman for People Eating Tasty Animals?

What a choice gig…

ladyingray on May 6, 2009 at 1:29 PM

F*** You, Hamas.

bluelightbrigade on May 6, 2009 at 1:30 PM

The leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Monday that its fighters had stopped firing rockets at Israel for now.

Umm, I thought the official line was that Hamas had nothing to do with the rockets, and could not stop them. Was it possible Hamas was lying???? I can’t believe it.

Clark1 on May 6, 2009 at 1:31 PM

The savages turned down a two-state solution back when Arafat still drew a breath.

Here’s a two-state solution: Israel and Jordan.

The Monster on May 6, 2009 at 1:32 PM

From the Times article (Meshal):

Asked what “long-term” meant, he said 10 years.

Why 10 years?

And why the ten-year time limit? Not because they’re getting close to fulfilling Biblical prophecy, but because that is the period stipulated for a truce in Islamic law. One manual of Muslim jurisprudence teaches that “if Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud” (‘Umdat as-Salik, o9.16).

http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/020802.php

awake on May 6, 2009 at 1:34 PM

“Speaking in Arabic in a house heavily guarded by Syrian and Palestinian security agents,…..”

If there was ever a time for a Predator Drone………

Seven Percent Solution on May 6, 2009 at 1:36 PM

So where’s ernesto telling us that Israel needs to tow the line in US foreign policy in negotiating with these psychopaths?

You know that’s where the ONE is going with this…..

mjk on May 6, 2009 at 1:38 PM

The Hamas charter is based on the Koran so even if they got rid of the former it would make no difference to their long-term goals.

aengus on May 6, 2009 at 1:56 PM

The really horrible things about that picture on the main page is that when those kids grow up we may have to kill them.

It is wrong to refuse to pray for their-mother-the-suicide-bomber, but it is very, very hard to pray for such a person. That it becomes easier if we think she was blackmailed into it is just a cheap excuse.

njcommuter on May 6, 2009 at 2:47 PM

Of course ignore how Islam maintains that muslims can break contracts, lie , cheat, steal etc from infidels all in the name of Allah.
After reading much of the Koran, I have determined it was either written by someone who was stoned, the devil,or both: IMHO

Badger40 on May 6, 2009 at 3:10 PM

awake on May 6, 2009 at 1:34 PM :

You forgot the additional clause in the Quran about the ten-year truce: when the Islamists have gained sufficient advantage, the truce can be abandoned to advance Islam.

This second clause has been invoked time after time by Islamic Jihadists. Islam cannot be trusted in its political form since the political Islamists will lie, cheat, and steal to gain an advantage during a truce. They have proved this numerous times, at least to my satisfaction.

Islam remains an eighth-century religion and military force. Unless and until Islamic political arms come into current time and demonstrate that they can be trusted, we will be forced to deal with them militarily until they are destroyed.

Quaoar on May 6, 2009 at 11:45 PM