Debbie Schlussel: HAMAS is NEVER "Charming"
"Charming" and HAMAS should never be in the same sentence. There's nothing charming about any group that blows up innocent civilians and preaches the mass elimination of a country, an ethnic group, and a religion.
But tell that to Associated Press reporter Aron Heller. He's singing the praises of HAMAS' new "charming" media personality.
Heller is tickled pink by HAMAS member and Gaza shampoo salesman Ribhi Rantisi--nephew of the late HAMAS leader (thankfully targeted for elimination by Israel) Abdel Aziz Rantisi.
Why is Heller so fascinated? We're not sure. Rantisi knows Hebrew, he reports. Big deal. So do many, many Palestinians who used to work in Israel. He likes soccer. Welcome to the Arab world, Mr. AP reporter. So do most Arabs.
Rantisi watches and appears on Israeli TV. Well, that's hardly a good or suprising thing. Israeli TV is to the left of our own media, here in America. Israeli TV is so anti-Israel that it often rivals Al-Jazeera in its anti-Israel coverage. Ditto for Israeli newspapers (especially Ha'Aretz and Yedito Achronot). And Rantisi still defends homicide bombings as a "reaction to Israeli actions."
Rantisi says one interesting thing, though:
Unlike Denmark, for example, he said Israel had respect for Islam and its traditions. "Even in prison they respected our religion," he said.
AP is fascinated that Rantisi claims to like Israeli music and food. But he's not buying it out of any benevolence to Jews or Israel.
"I get what is healthier for my kids. If I buy Gaza yogurt, my kid will get sick," he said.
Someone nees to retire AP reporter Aron Heller, so he can return to reality. There's nothing charming about HAMAS or any of its members, regardless of what they watch or what food they like.
Remember, there are plenty of Baskin Robbins, McDonald's, etc. in Saudi Arabia. And Saudis like Levi's, too. But while they may love these things, they still hate Baskin, Robbins, Levi Strauss, and America. Nothing charming about it.
Posted by Debbie on February 24, 2006 02:05 PM to Debbie Schlussel