Euphemizing Extremism

"In Fatah-governed West Bank, Solidarity with Hamas"
A11, Tuesday 1/6/09
By Steven Erlanger

In this piece, Steven Erlanger, previous Jerusalem Bureau Chief of the Times, describes widespread Palestinian solidarity with Hamas in the West Bank. Nevertheless, Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party, dominant in the West Bank, has not allowed outward displays of unity with Hamas, brutally "crushing recent demonstrations" (why hasn't there been any NYT coverage on this?).

It is somewhat amusing that while discussing Fatah's heavy-handed crackdown of those supporting Hamas, Erlanger cannot get himself to say that Abbas' Fatah is an authoritarian and corrupt organization. Instead, he benignly offers that Fatah "is trying to create stability, security and a working model of productive life in the region that can provide an alternative to the vision of Hamas." As the Times views Fatah as a good-faith negotiating partner with Israel, it doesn't pay to highlight its authoritarian and corrupt nature.

Beyond this, Erlanger erroneously writes that "many [Palestinians] want the [Palestinian] authority... to do more to criticize Israel." Again, very euphemistic language. Many of these Palestinians do not want Mahmoud Abbas to simply offer more criticism of Israel, for which he has offered plenty. What they are advocating is a break-off of negotiations with Israel or participation in Hamas' armed struggle against Israel. Erlanger portrays these Palestinian demands as much more reasonable than they actually are to minimize the extremist stance they advocate.

As one Palestinian is quoted in the story says, "If there is no resistance [armed violence, terrorism] against the occupation, there is no Palestinian cause." This succintly sums up the Palestinian mentality. To be Palestinian is to 'resist' (violently attack), not to build. The Palestinian movement is mired in its own nihilism, which the Times refuses to recognize.