Lorna Fitzsimons- 09/05/2008

Lorna Fitzsimons, (Guardian)

"Jimmy Carter (Comment, May 8) is right to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. But it is unfair to hold Israel primarily responsible. Israel renounced all claims on Gaza nearly three years ago, when it unilaterally withdrew all its settlements and military forces. The subsequent election of Hamas may have been free and fair, but democracy and terrorism are incompatible. By refusing to renounce violence and recognise Israel, Hamas is forcing the innocent Palestinians to suffer.

Since withdrawal, terrorist groups from Gaza have fired in excess of 4,000 rockets at Sderot and other Israeli towns, whose populations live in conditions comparable to the blitz. The international demands on Hamas to renounce violence and accept the existence of Israel are the logical premises of a permanent solution of two states living side by side in peace - something Hamas, a movement that believes in a pan-Islamic state, has shown no sign of accepting. Israel has already left Gaza, and has accepted the path of negotiation to a two-state solution. The IRA were brought to the negotiating table once they realised that violence had run its course. Hamas must now do the same."

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