Globe Editorial: Back on track on Hamas
Post
Back on track on Hamas, Wednesday, March 8, 2006
After 24 hours of almost farcical uncertainty, it is reassuring that Canada has reaffirmed its tough policy toward Hamas.
Two days ago, after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay confidently declared that some Canadian aid to the Palestinian Authority would continue as long as it was not diverted for military purposes. Yesterday, the inexperienced minister issued a brief statement that backtracked significantly, reconfirming the original conditions that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other Western governments set last month: that continuation of aid to the Palestinian government hinges on the militant Islamic group's willingness to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previous peace agreements.
That is the only way to proceed as long as Hamas continues to defy international pressure to moderate its threatening stance. To the consternation of many governments, Russia invited Hamas leaders to Moscow last Friday for three days of high-profile talks. It was the new Palestinian government's first invitation to a non-Islamic state. Although Russia sternly advocated that it comply with those three conditions, Hamas leaders would not budge. Instead, they grudgingly agreed only to continue the truce with Israel. And although they added that they might accept the internationally brokered road map toward peace, they heaped virtually impossible conditions on Israel before they would comply.
In the circumstances, the only option is for Western governments to hold firm to their demands on Hamas. Instead, after a persuasive session with Russia's Sergey Lavrov, Mr. MacKay abruptly broke ranks, declaring that some aid could continue. "International monitoring can ensure that the money is going to the Palestinian people, that it is reaching its destination, that it will not be subverted or perverted," he asserted confidently. For 24 hours, amid a storm of questions, the Foreign Minister and his government went to ground. No one was able to explain exactly how much aid Canada would opt to continue; it currently allocates $25-million on average annually for the West Bank and Gaza, for Palestinian refugees in the region and for other regional initiatives.
With the issuance of a terse three-paragraph statement late yesterday afternoon, such nitty-gritty questions became irrelevant. The government is back on the course that Mr. Harper had originally set out. Federal aid money to the West Bank and Gaza, which is delivered largely through international organizations on the ground such as Oxfam and the United Nations, is under review. "Future funding will depend on the statements and actions of a new government," the statement added.
It is the only way to maintain the pressure on Hamas. The militant government urgently needs the foreign aid that accounts for at least $1-billion of its $1.6-billion (U.S.) budget. If the United States, the European Union and other developed nations do not hang tough, they will remove the financial stick that hangs over the new government's head and let it continue on its worrisome course. Two days ago, as if to flout Russia's entreaties, the Hamas-controlled parliament cancelled all decisions made during the last session of the outgoing legislature in a calculated insult to its moderate opposition. There is a peace process in place that, if the Palestinians co-operate, could lead to the formation of their own state. That is the carrot. Ottawa was right to reconfirm its commitment to the formidable stick.
After 24 hours of almost farcical uncertainty, it is reassuring that Canada has reaffirmed its tough policy toward Hamas.
Two days ago, after a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Peter MacKay confidently declared that some Canadian aid to the Palestinian Authority would continue as long as it was not diverted for military purposes. Yesterday, the inexperienced minister issued a brief statement that backtracked significantly, reconfirming the original conditions that Prime Minister Stephen Harper and other Western governments set last month: that continuation of aid to the Palestinian government hinges on the militant Islamic group's willingness to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept previous peace agreements.
That is the only way to proceed as long as Hamas continues to defy international pressure to moderate its threatening stance. To the consternation of many governments, Russia invited Hamas leaders to Moscow last Friday for three days of high-profile talks. It was the new Palestinian government's first invitation to a non-Islamic state. Although Russia sternly advocated that it comply with those three conditions, Hamas leaders would not budge. Instead, they grudgingly agreed only to continue the truce with Israel. And although they added that they might accept the internationally brokered road map toward peace, they heaped virtually impossible conditions on Israel before they would comply.
In the circumstances, the only option is for Western governments to hold firm to their demands on Hamas. Instead, after a persuasive session with Russia's Sergey Lavrov, Mr. MacKay abruptly broke ranks, declaring that some aid could continue. "International monitoring can ensure that the money is going to the Palestinian people, that it is reaching its destination, that it will not be subverted or perverted," he asserted confidently. For 24 hours, amid a storm of questions, the Foreign Minister and his government went to ground. No one was able to explain exactly how much aid Canada would opt to continue; it currently allocates $25-million on average annually for the West Bank and Gaza, for Palestinian refugees in the region and for other regional initiatives.
With the issuance of a terse three-paragraph statement late yesterday afternoon, such nitty-gritty questions became irrelevant. The government is back on the course that Mr. Harper had originally set out. Federal aid money to the West Bank and Gaza, which is delivered largely through international organizations on the ground such as Oxfam and the United Nations, is under review. "Future funding will depend on the statements and actions of a new government," the statement added.
It is the only way to maintain the pressure on Hamas. The militant government urgently needs the foreign aid that accounts for at least $1-billion of its $1.6-billion (U.S.) budget. If the United States, the European Union and other developed nations do not hang tough, they will remove the financial stick that hangs over the new government's head and let it continue on its worrisome course. Two days ago, as if to flout Russia's entreaties, the Hamas-controlled parliament cancelled all decisions made during the last session of the outgoing legislature in a calculated insult to its moderate opposition. There is a peace process in place that, if the Palestinians co-operate, could lead to the formation of their own state. That is the carrot. Ottawa was right to reconfirm its commitment to the formidable stick.
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