Peace in our time? Don't bet on it!

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (pictured here - mean looking son-of-a-bitch, ain't he!) told thousands of Iranians on Friday that his Hamas-led government will never recognize Israel and will continue to fight for the "liberation of Jerusalem."

The United States is pressing the Palestinian government to not only recognize Israel, but to renounce violence and form a national unity government with the moderate Fatah party.

Haniveh has his own agenda and said; "I'm insisting from this podium that these issues won't materialize. We will never recognize the usurper Zionist government and will continue our jihad-like movement until we achieve the liberation of Jerusalem."

Meanwhile, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, an adviser to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah party, said if Hamas wants to be part of a national unity government, it will need to abide by agreements the PLO has signed in the past. This would imply recognition of Israel.

"I can't criticize him (Haniyeh) when he is talking in the name of Hamas. But if he is speaking as prime minister, he should abide by the national agenda," Abdel Rahman said.

After all it said and done, the only thing that really matters in this situation is how badly anyone wants peace in the region. On those grounds, things don’t look too good!

Your frustrated scribe;
Allan W Janssen