Wednesday January 4, 2006

I've Been Thinking:

The White House spokesman has issued a statement about Arabs in East Jerusalem and their participation in the Palestinian Legislative Council elections slated for January 25.

The Palestinian Authority is saying that if the Palestinian Arabs of East Jerusalem are not able to vote, there will be no election.
The White House says "we believe that people must have access to the ballot."

Once again, the White House has shown how little it really understands.
Here is the problem:
The area known as East Jerusalem is either still in dispute or it is under Israeli control.
Hamas and other vehemently anti-Israel parties are running in the election.
If the Arabs of East Jerusalem vote, Israel will effectively be allowing sworn enemies, bent on Israel's annihilation, to stand for election in an area Israel controls.

The issue is less about voting and more about the election and Hamas.
In recent local elections the problem was avoided - Hamas did not run and Arabs of East Jerusalem were allowed to vote.