AVING Hamas in charge of Palestinian affairs is an improvement over the Yasir Arafat, syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer maintains. Arafat had Israel and the world deluded. He would sign temporary agreements which would gain him legitimacy, territory, and an army. He would never sign an agreement that would recognize the state of Israel to exist. He acquired benefits by pretending.
With Hamas there is no pretension. So it is an advance to have Hamas in power.
Krauthammer, 56, sees no quick resolution to the Arab-Israel conflict.
"It will only happen when the Palestinians accept the existence of the Jewish state," he said.
"Until then you build a separation wall, determine your boundaries, and wait. Time is not on the side of the Palestinians. You need perseverance, faith, determination and a willingness to wait."
Krauthammer spoke at the American Friends of the Open University of Israel dinner at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York. Among the 230 guests were Ernie Michel, Nira and Ken Abramowitz, and Ira and Ingeborg Rennert who introduced Krauthammer.
Charles Krauthammer with
mother Thea and cousin Lucy Ullman |
American Friends president Irwin Hochberg promised that after the program "we will enjoy breakfast in the foyer…I mean dessert."
University president Dr. Gershon Ben-Shakhar took the hint and promised to be brief. We were relieved that we didn’t have to stay all night for breakfast…I mean dessert.
Dr. Matthew Goldstein, chancellor of the City University of New York, presented an award to his colleague, Brooklyn College president Dr. Christoph Kimmich.
Goldstein noted that his 25 colleges are all having graduation ceremonies this month with diverse speakers. "We believe that no student should leave without being sedated by a long boring commencement address."
