CAMERA Letter Published in New York Times

Referring to the so-called Palestinan prisoners’ document, an editorial in the New York Times wrongly claimed Hamas “endorse[d] a document that implicitly recognizes Israel within its pre-1967 borders” (“Hamas Provokes a Fight,” June 29).

The following day, the newspaper published this CAMERA letter pointing out Hamas continues to reject Israel’s right to exist:
 

To the Editor:

Your editorial claimed that the document endorsed by Hamas “implicitly recognizes Israel.” Unfortunately, Hamas’s leaders and spokesmen have repeatedly made clear that the group still refuses to recognize Israel’s legitimacy.

Salah al-Bardawil, a Hamas lawmaker, is quoted in your June 28 issue as explaining that “we did not say we accept two states.”

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, pointed out that “we agreed to all the articles of the document without having to recognize Israel.” Others have repeated this unambiguous message.

It seems, then, that Hamas has successfully maneuvered an agreement compatible with its uncompromising rejection of the Jewish state, as enshrined in its founding charter.

That document calls for Israel to be replaced with an Islamic state.

Gilead Ini
Boston, June 29, 2006
The writer is senior research analyst, Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.

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