Imagine for a moment that you are the prime minister of what could very well be—in a few short months—a bona fides state recognized by the United Nations, the IMF and the World Bank. All the world's eyes are set upon your efforts to build strong institutions, invest wisely, and pursue a constructive policy with your neighbors, who have after all been a co-belligerent in a long, bloody war spanning over sixty years.

One crisp spring day, a villain of global notoriety is shot dead; a character who has not only murdered innocents of every creed, color and nation, but also annexed the cause of your people's statehood as a justification for the mass murder carried out by his apocalyptic cult. Regardless of whether or not the platform of your political party shared certain tenets of said villain’s ideology, might it appear politically expedient—whether or not humanity is your chief interest—to solemnly acknowledge the harm caused by such a figure? Would not this be the proper response?

It would be. But that is not how Ismail Haniyeh chose to respond to the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Instead, he chose to say something like this:

If this news is true, it comes as part of the US policy of killing, destruction and the shedding of Arab and Islamic blood.

Sorry, what was that, head of government soon-to-be-voted-legitimate-or-else-once again-damned-to-diplomatic-wilderness?

[Bin Laden] is a Muslim Mojahed.

Way to go, you absolute fucking shithead.

Of the reconciliation deal, one anonymous reader writes, and only writes:

It is a statistical fact that the wicked work harder to reach hell then the righteous do to enter heaven.

I recognized it immediately as a quote of American humorist Josh Billings. In this context I assume it to be a disapproval of Fatah's declared peace with Hamas, suggesting their 'hard work' in forming a unity government is an evil thing, speeding their delivery to 'hell.' To this, I will repsond to our reader with another one of Billings's aphorisms:

As scarce as truth is, the supply has always been in excess of the demand.

The truth is: this is an encouraging step forward for the Palestinians. It is at least that. Hamas was going to be around, perhaps longer, if the emnity between the two leaderships dragged on. There is no Palestinian state without this deal, and there is no peace without such a state. It's no surprise that Ban Ki-moon, presiding over the UN vote this September, is jumping for joy while Avigdor Lieberman is dropping what marbles he had left. This will very likely push the Islamists into at least tacit acceptance of Israel's existence, as Hamas leaders know that they will be torn apart if they muck up this chance to achieve Palestinian statehood.

Euronews.

I can't say that I expected reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah to be signed, sealed and delivered hours after I stepped aboard my flight out of the Holy Land, but it appears that the talks in Cairo were uncharacteristically constructive. Somehow the issue of security must have been overcome, which was what killed the talks in Cairo in 2009. The elections are a comin', with individuals from each party running as independents. Fatah will most likely come out on top given Hamas's stumble and fall in recent polls. Again, this is all encouraging.

Egypt will continue to be a deal broker, and the next item of the day is a prisoner swap. Gilad Shalit, and around 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, will see the sunlight sooner than later.

I've just reread the first Billings quote with a different emphasis. Is it possible the commenter was talking about Israel as the hard working fellow destined for unpleasantness? Well, we can do a post on that next time 'round.