Unfortunately, the Palestinian Authority has done almost nothing to prevent
this scenario, violating its signed commitment under the
2003 roadmap to
'dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure', while actually
inviting Hamas
into the halls of power. (Hamas
turned down the
offer.)
The western media, meanwhile, has completely failed to publicize that the
PA has reneged on its commitment to dismantle terrorism. HonestReporting has
previously noted isolated cases of this (here and
here), but such reframing has
reached a new level. It's now become standard practice across all
major media outlets to present the PA's obligation to forcefully confront
terrorist groups as a mere 'Israel demand' or 'Israeli and American demand' ―
for example:
Associated Press (July 3): 'The invitation to the Islamic groups is
part of an effort by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to co-opt them
instead of disarming them as Israel and the U.S. have demanded.'
Reuters (July 5): 'Israel and the
United States have demanded Abbas disarm and dismantle militant groups
as part of a US-backed 'road map' to peace and a Palestinian state in Gaza
and the West Bank.'
AFP
(July 5): 'Abbas has so far resisted Israeli pressure to disarm
factions such as Hamas.'
New York Times (July
4): 'While Abbas seeks to co-opt
Hamas and other armed factions, Israel says he should be confronting the groups.'
* * *
An editorial in today's
(July 7) Washington Times indicates that the problem isn't a
lack of PA potential:
Lt. Gen. William Ward, the American soldier who four months ago was tasked
with the responsibility to help the Palestinians rebuild their security
forces.. told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that only about 22,000 of the 58,000 persons in the
[PA] security forces actually bother to show up for work. But on paper, even 22,000 security officers should be quite capable of taking on Hamas and the other rejectionist groups. One reason the security forces have failed so badly, Palestinian Interior Minister Nasser Youssef candidly told the Palestinian Legislative Council recently, is that they include terrorists and gangsters responsible for creating the lawlessness that has enveloped the West Bank and Gaza.
The road map is an international agreement put forth jointly by the United States, European Union, United Nations, and Russia ― and signed by the Palestinian Authority. When journalists shift the obligation from a Palestinian commitment and international obligation to a mere 'Israeli demand' or a joint US-Israeli project, they become, in effect, complicit in the PA's effort to shirk its own all-important commitments.
HonestReporting encourages subscribers to monitor your local media for
'dismantling' of official PA commitments to confront terrorist groups.
Thank you for your ongoing involvement in the battle against media bias.
HonestReporting
