The Hamas honeymoon is over

I don't know how much credit to give this story, but it has a few pretty funny moments at the end.

Egypt has been waiting to put Hamas in its place for almost a year and a half. Ever since the organization controlling the Gaza Strip broke through the Rafah crossing, a series of issues in which Hamas refused to compromise were left without a harsh response – but now, according to a senior Palestinian Authority official, things are difference.

The uncovering of Hizbullah's terror network in Egypt was a sign that the winds have changed.

According to the source, it was only a matter of time before the Egyptians settle the score with Hamas over its conduct since it took over the Strip. "Hamas leaders were mistaken if they thought they could continue embarrassing the Egyptians on the funds and arms smuggling issue, without a response.

"The breaching of the Rafah crossing in January 2007 turned the Egyptian soil into a walkway for Hamas members, and the Egyptians were waiting to settle the account over that too."

That's not the funny part. This is:

The Hamas delegation was the only one put under tight security, the Hamas members' possessions were searched thoroughly as if they were smugglers, and senior organization members were banned entry to Cairo.

I would have paid money to see that.

Hamas will never, ever recognize Israel

Talk to Hamas? Why? Because they'll eventually moderate, learn to live with Israel in a Palestinian state, side by side in peace and equality?

No, they won't. They keep saying so. The world keeps ignoring it when they do.

Dr. Ismail Radwan, a senior political leader of Hamas, stated that Hamas will not deal with or be part of any government which recognizes the occupation, and will not accept the demands of thew Quartet.

Radwan added that Hamas will not accept the abandonment of legitimate Palestinian rights, and will not be part of any government which recognizes Israel as a legitimate entity on the historic lands of Palestine.

In a written statement received by the Palestine Information Center on Monday evening, Radwan said that Hamas will never recognize the occupation and will not grant it legitimacy.

This is from a Palestinian media outlet. And there's more.

Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, stated that any new government in Ramallah, under any name, will not be legitimate without a submission to legislative council for a confidence vote. He added that talks on rebuilding Gaza are another deceit by the Ramallah government.

In a statement to the Quds Press, Sami Abu Zuhri, spokesperson of Hamas, called on Fateh movement “to free itself from the US preconditions”.

“We are not the problem”, Abu Zuhri said, “The problem is in those who link the success of the talks with an American blessing”.

He also said that Ramallah government is illegitimate, and that any new government will not be legitimate unless it is presented and approved by the legislative council.

Abu Zuhri further said that the term of president Mahmoud Abbas in office had already ended, and added that this issue is one of the problems obstructing unity talks.

It's all there, for those who want to see it. But that won't be the media, international negotiators, the UN, the EU, and most especially, Jimmy Carter.

In every generation, they rise against us. Tonight, we celebrate the failure of our enemies to destroy us. Hamas will be a story told around the Seder tables many years from now, if at all.