Hagai El-Ad, "Israel’s Charade of Democracy": More Anti-Israel Balderdash From The New York Times

As I noted less than two weeks ago in response to a guest New York Times op-ed by Henry Seigman: "You wish to publish a guest New York Times op-ed? If you're Jewish and prepared to vilify Israel, your chances will improve immeasurably." Well, in the event that you require additional proof of this postulate, Hagai El-Ad , executive director of B’Tselem, provides the goods in a guest Times op-ed entitled "Israel’s Charade of Democracy," which he begins by observing:

"Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is nearing the half-century mark, and Israel’s new right-wing government offers little hope of ending it. Nevertheless, the new government promises something else of value: clarity. And with that clarity, the opportunity to challenge the prolonged lie of the occupation’s 'temporary' status. For if the occupation has become permanent in all but its name, what about the voting rights of Palestinians?

. . . .

To be sure, after the Oslo accords were signed in 1993, Palestinians in the occupied territories got to cast ballots for some institutions of their own. But Palestinian independence never came to pass, and the interim partial autonomy established in its stead underscored how 'temporariness' is abused while ultimate control remains with Israel."

Okay, Palestinians in Gaza, from which Israel withdrew entirely in 2005, and the West Bank do not participate in Israeli elections. However, Hagai fails to mention that Palestinians in Gaza brought Hamas into power in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections. Hamas, which is listed by the US government as a foreign terrorist organization, has, ever since that time, refused to hold new elections in Gaza. On the other hand, Hamas, whose charter calls for the murder of all Jews (not just Israelis) has taken responsibility for orchestrating hundreds of suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and for firing thousands of rockets at Israeli towns and cities.

As for the West Bank, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is now in his eleventh year of his four-year term in office. Needless to say, Abbas also has no interest in future elections in the West Bank which could jeopardize Fatah's hold on power.

Also, no mention by El-Ad that Abbas refused Israeli Prime Minister Olmert's 2008 peace offer, providing the Palestinians with an independent state along the 1967 lines together with agreed upon land swaps and Palestinian control of east Jerusalem. One year later, after Netanyahu declared a 10-month settlement freeze "to restart peace talks" at the request of Obama, Abbas delayed entering negotiations until the last moment and then walked away from the discussions.

Israel's "charade" of democracy? Spare me . . .