Friends with the Enemy

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, would have the U.S. believe that he is a friend. That he is committed to the peace process. That he represents a government that values democracy, freedom, and good relations with the West. But is he telling the truth?

A group called Palestinian Media Watch brought a report before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in which they conclude that the Palestinian Authority has allied itself with nations considered to be enemies of the U.S. PMW had compiled a long list of examples from the Palestinian media that went as far back as 2005. Among the nations that the Palestinian media has spoken of favorably, it is little surprise to find both Iraq and Syria. Saddam Hussein is known throughout the world as a cruel dictator with no respect for the rights of his own people, and yet schools are being named after him in the Palestinian Authority in memory of "the values of Arabness and jihad, which he represented." The U.S. State Department lists Syria as a state sponsor of terrorism, funding and arming not only Palestinian terrorist groups but also Hizbullah in Lebanon. While the choice to support these countries is inexcusable from an American standpoint, it does not come as a surprise and could possibly be explained, although not justified, by the ties of religion that they share. Is it not natural that Muslim countries would support other Muslim countries?

What is more shocking, and far more revealing, is that the Palestinian media also approves of and courts the favor of non-Muslim countries; notably, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea. These countries are openly anti-American and have no respect for democracy.

Using common sense, most people would probably agree that friends are friends for a reason. They typically share common views, values, and goals. What is true for individuals is also true for states. In international relations, a state chooses its allies for one of two reasons; either, 1) they share a common ideology, or 2) they share a common enemy. Unless one of those two conditions exists, states will not form an alliance. Therefore, if an alliance does exist, the only logical conclusion is that one or both conditions have been met.

Having established the above, it is easy to explain why the Palestinian Authority has chosen as its friends the enemies of the United States. In the case of Iraq and Syria, the nations share a common ideology. They are all Arab, and they are all Muslim. In the case of Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea, the common denominator is that they share an enemy: the United States. If the Palestinian Authority has made friends of them, the only conclusion to be reached is that the PA is also anti-American. This combination of allies suggests that the PA could logically be considered an enemy of the U.S.

So what is up with Mahmoud Abbas? Well, he's a politician, and he's trying to have it both ways. Assuming that he is an intelligent individual, surely he recognizes that without American support the chances of establishing a Palestinian state (currently the PA is only a territory) are pretty slim. He needs the international pressure that the U.S. brings to the table. Right now the U.S. Congress is pouring incredible amounts of money into the Palestinian Authority as relief aid. Without that money, where would the PA economy be? So, Abbas has little choice other than to publicly claim support for America and democracy and the peace process. But, actions speak louder than words.



Source Article
(PA Cozying up to America's Enemies by Herb Keinon)
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1208246578923&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull