Posted by Rabbi Andrew S. Davids, Executive Director, ARZA

The Palestinian people have spoken through a democratic process and have chosen to be led by a party committed to Israel’s destruction. We cannot place our hands on our ears and pretend not to hear. Unless Hamas takes immediate steps to demonstrate in both word and action that they are prepared to assume leadership in this volatile region in a responsible manner, we believe they do not truly serve the needs of the Palestinian people.

It is far from clear what message Palestinian voters made by selecting Hamas. Clearly, frustration with the corrupt Fatah regime was a major factor. While Hamas placed women and non-Muslims on their slate and focused much of their campaign on the need to fight corruption within the Palestinian Authority, they continue to reject the peace process, reject Israel’s right to exists and legitimize violence and terrorism.

The Bush Administration's response to the Hamas victory mirrors our own. We call upon the United States Administration to ensure that the Quartet remain engaged and of one voice so that it can play a critical and constructive role in guiding the new Palestinian leadership towards responsible and constructive initiatives. The Quartet as well as the European Union and the United Nations must be forthright and unbending in holding the new Hamas leadership accountable for word and action, and must demand commitment on the part of Hamas to a new agenda or withhold all political and financial support for the Palestinian Authority.

While we counsel the leadership of Israel to be cautious and not take any rash actions, we stand with her during this time of difficulty as she waits to see if the new leadership will engage in dialogue as a partner or will maintain its rejectionist stance.

We know that progress which is so important to the Palestinians (and to the Israelis) is a distant hope until Hamas immediately take steps to strike anti-Israel and anti-Semitic language from their Charter, to acknowledge immediately of Israel’s right to exist within safe and secure boundaries and to fulfill all obligations to which the Palestinian Authority committed itself related to the peace process.

As Jews, we are not strangers to distant hopes. Many times in our history, as today, they are precisely what sustain us. There is no question as to what Hamas is and what Hamas must become. We hope and pray that the path towards peace is quickly embraced by the new leadership of the Palestinian people.