BlackFive

Credit to Protest Warrior for the best sign ever.

Let's hope some day we can add Islamism to the list, but for now let's be happy that Palestinian extremism and terrorism are considering joining the isms of the discredited.

Many media outlets. lefty talking heads, academics and terrorist apologists have claimed that the Israeli actions in Gaza were war crimes, a new holocaust and many other ridiculous accusations. But most all of these same folks said that, even worse, they would do nothing at all to change the dynamic in the region. Now I can understand their pessimism, the quote that "The Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity" has been all too apt for all too long. But the thing about military action and wars is that they can eventually change minds and force antagonists to admit defeat. It looks like some in the Hamas leadership have looked around and counted the dead relatives and friends they have sacrificed on the altar of "From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free", and decided that it doesn't look like those pesky Jews are budging.

Senior officials in Hamas are indicating a willingness to negotiate a deal for a long-term truce with Israel as long as the borders of Gaza are opened to the rest of the world.

"We want to be part of the international community," Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told The Associated Press at the Gaza-Egypt border, where he was coordinating Arab aid shipments. "I think Hamas has no interest now to increase the number of crises in Gaza or to challenge the world."

Three Hamas leaders interviewed by AP said they would accept statehood in just the West Bank and Gaza and would give up their "resistance" against Israel if that were achieved.

"We accept a state in the '67 borders," said Hamad. "We are not talking about the destruction of Israel."

This Hamad doesn't seem to be a softy according to wikipedia. Of course this is not all of their leaders, some continue to maintain their facade.

"We won this war," said Hamas politician Mushir Al-Masri. "Why should we give in to pressure from anyone?"

Al-Masri spoke to the AP while standing next to a chair that used to serve as his seat in the Palestinian parliament, now reduced to rubble by Israeli bombing. Surrounding him were cracked cement, broken bricks, shattered glass and microphones covered in ash.

That is some great imagery, and evocative of the progress Palestinians can expect if they follow these hate-filled, extremists.The fact that members of Hamas leadership are willing to discuss living next to and recognizing Israel is a major step and may actually allow negotiations to happen. I have always said diplomacy is an iron fist in a velvet glove. The Gazans have just felt the iron fist and perhaps they would prefer the velvet glove and some peace.