July 05, 2007
Johnston Release A Promising Start For Hamas
Hamas' role in securing the release of BBC reporter Alan Johnston in Gaza won't change the U.S. and EU boycott of its government, but could open a path toward better standing in the world community.
The Palestinian political party, which advocates the destruction of Israel, has been cut off from sorely needed international aid since violently seizing control of the Gaza Strip three weeks ago. Hamas' pledges to restore peace and prosperity to Gazans are meaningless, Israel and the West have said, so long as the Quartet conditions of recognizing Israel and renouncing violence are not met.
Still, the British government has expressed gratitude for the pivotal part Hamas played in Johnston's release. While sure to carefully avoid anything that smacks of quid pro quo with the Gaza government, it's difficult to see how Hamas won't be rewarded in some way, even if only with goodwill, a currency Hamas badly needs right now.
High-level British officials had already reached out to Hamas over Johnston's captivity back in April, when Richard Makepeace, the British consul general in East Jerusalem, met with Hamas' prime minister Ismail Haniyeh to discuss the kidnapping. Johnston was released yesterday after 114 days in captivity -- setting the record for Western journalists kidnapped in the region.
Hamas undoubtedly will want that high-level dialogue to continue, though the group was quickly pressured to answer for Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier snatched by Hamas gunmen more than a year ago. Late last month, Hamas released an audio recording of Shalit -- the first sign he may still be alive since his capture.
Johnston himself was pressed to visit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank to thank the Fatah government for its role in his release. Fatah and its supporters, including many Palestinian journalists, protested that Hamas should not be given all the credit for Johnston's freedom.
One thing going for Hamas so far is that its strong-arm tactics not only helped convince the Islamist Army of Islam to release Johnston, they also seem to be successfully dampening violence in Gaza. "There is no theft, no crime, and there are no bullets," one Fatah supporter told the New York Times.
BBC News has audio of Johnston's first interview since his release. And in the latest installment of the Jerusalem Post's WH '08 Q&A series, five presidential candidates outline their policies toward the new Hamas government.
Posted at 11:55 AM
Posted to:
Alan Johnston, Fatah, Hamas, Palestinians
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