Put your money where your mouth is!

The West (US, EU, Israel) has suspended its almost 1 billion/year of aid to the PA, and Hamas is going broke. Hamas doesn't seem to care; it says it won't sacrifice its claims for a "handful of American dollars". The party is calling on Arab states to honor their promise to provide aid money; to replace the money that the West is no longer giving. Iran has promised a meager 50 million. And Saudi Arabia, the most oil-rich nation on earth, has promised only 20 million.

Hmm...all of Hamas' "friends" aren't willing to financially match a handful of American dollars? I begin to wonder whether these governments (Iran, Saudi Arabia) really care about the Palestinians, as they endlessly claim. They'll certainly have to do a lot better, if they are to avert a Hamas financial collapse.

The other Palestinian political party, Fatah, is loving the pressure that Hamas is facing. Fatah still refuses to form a coalition government with Hamas, since Hamas doesn't acknowledge all of the agreements that Fatah and Israel have made over the years. Fatah knows that under Hamas, the peace process will go absolutely nowhere - it doesn't want to be a part of failure.

The West should continue isolating Hamas, economically and politically. There should be no dialogue until Hamas 1) recognizes Israel, and 2) renounces violence. All of this drama, for two simple requests. You wouldn't think it is too much to ask.