The Op-Ed From Hell

There's so much I could say about the Washington Post's decision to run this column by Hamas's Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar. But I find its grossness too obvious and, beyond this short overview, I think I'll just leave it to readers to think for themselves.

Under the pretext of praising Carter's willingness to meet with Hamas, al-Zahar took the opportunity to give us the regular Hamas line on Israel. Here's the most outrageous snippet: "Sixty-five years ago, the courageous Jews of the Warsaw ghetto rose in defense of their people. We Gazans, living in the world's largest open-air prison, can do no less."

Wow.

Because, you know, Israel deports thousands of Gazans off to extermination camps where they're systematically slaughtered.

To their credit, the WaPost's Editorial board ran this Editorial on the other side of the fold criticizing al-Zahar's piece and even Carter's meeting with Hamas.

Considering the WaPost's innumerable Editorial mess-ups--like the great Charlotte Allen bit a while ago--I was at first more angry at them then at al-Zahar's verbal diarrhea.

After a while to think it over, however, I've decided that it's a good thing that the world can see a concentrated and focused expression of the Hamas line. I have no doubt that those who see for themselves what Hamas stands for will side even more strongly with the view that the Palestinian's chance at getting their own state and finding peace with Israel is only dampened by the noxious influence of such despicable snakes.