"Why do we keep pretending that they (Hamas) want something else?"

Pat Condell speaks the truth about Hamas. The truth is so obvious that I do wonder how screwed up so many Western journalists must be in order to see Hamas as the good guys. Can these journalists not read, have they not read Hamas's Charter, can they not see the videos all over the internet of Hamas leaders calling for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews? What makes these journalist think that they know the real truth of the matter? Here's the 13th Article of Hamas's Charter (my emphasis):

'Article Thirteen: Peaceful Solutions, [Peace] Initiatives and International Conferences [Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion; the nationalism of the Islamic Resistance Movement is part of its faith, the movement educates its members to adhere to its principles and to raise the banner of Allah over their homeland as they fight their Jihad: “Allah is the all-powerful, but most people are not aware.” From time to time a clamoring is voiced, to hold an International Conference in search for a solution to the problem. Some accept the idea, others reject it, for one reason or another, demanding the implementation of this or that condition, as a prerequisite for agreeing to convene the Conference or for participating in it. But the Islamic Resistance Movement, which is aware of the [prospective] parties to this conference, and of their past and present positions towards the problems of the Muslims, does not believe that those conferences are capable of responding to demands, or of restoring rights or doing justice to the oppressed. Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint the nonbelievers as arbitrators in the lands of Islam. Since when did the Unbelievers do justice to the Believers? “And the Jews will not be pleased with thee, nor will the Christians, till thou follow their creed. Say: Lo! the guidance of Allah [himself] is the Guidance. And if you should follow their desires after the knowledge which has come unto thee, then you would have from Allah no protecting friend nor helper.” Sura 2 (the Cow), verse 120 There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. The initiatives, proposals and International Conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility. The Palestinian people are too noble to have their future, their right and their destiny submitted to a vain game. As the hadith has it: “The people of Syria are Allah’s whip on this land; He takes revenge by their intermediary from whoever he wished among his worshipers. The Hypocrites among them are forbidden from vanquishing the true believers, and they will die in anxiety and sorrow.” (Told by Tabarani, who is traceable in ascending order of traditionaries to Muhammad, and by Ahmed whose chain of transmission is incomplete. But it is bound to be a true hadith, for both story tellers are reliable. Allah knows best.)'

'Yes but the Hamas Charter is not what they believe now', I am told by pro-Palestinian activists. 'Really they want peace', I am informed. Here's an Hamas imam preaching last year:

"Oh Allah, loosen your power and strength on the Jews... Please Allah, kill them all and don't leave any of them alive... Please Allah, get rid of the Jews"

But it's not just Jews that Hamas want to kill. Here's a piece shown on Hamas's TV station in December 2010

"Allah, oh our Lord, vanquish your enemies, enemies of the religion (Islam) in all places. Allah, strike the Jews and their sympathizers, the Christians and their supporters, the Communsists and their adherents. Allah, count them and kill them to the last one, and don't leave even one."

Here's Dr. Walid Al-Rashudi, head of the Department of Islamic Studies at Saud University in Saudi Arabia, in a speech from 2009 broadcast on Hamas TV.

"You don't treat the Jews as enemies because they are only human beings who eat and drink, No! We treat them as enemies because they are the enemy of Allah and the prophets, they are murderers of prophets, falsifiers of divine revelation, they are treacherous betrayers, therefore we treat them as enemies... Allah! Allah, count the Jews and kill them to the last one and don't leave even one."

Here's a music video from last week produced by Hamas's Al-Qassam Brigades

"We are the [Al-Qassam] Brigades Brigades - we kidnap soldiers Brigades - we kill Jews Brigades - we watch the borders Brigades - we are not afraid of death Brigades - gear up your weapon Gear up, gear up Destroy the usurper's dens and set fire to the oppressors Through training and preparations, you roar, oh lion of Qassam It's in your hands to get [our] country back and then we will raise the banner of Islam." Hebrew texts on screen addressing Israelis: "Your body parts are scattered everywhere." "The cemeteries await you."

Do you still think Hamas want peace?