On April 19, Haaretz startled its readers with the following bit of news. The European Union will not consider removing Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations so long as it refrains from demonstrating "respect for human rights".



Here is a simple sanity test: is it good or bad? The answer is, this is very good for everybody.



This is why it's good for the Jews. First, it shows Eurabia's opposition to a terrorist organization created specifically for the purpose of killing Jews. Second, it indirectly acknowledges that Jews are also human. Can we possibly ask for more without becoming obnoxious in that unique, unmistakably Jewish way?



But it is also good for Hamas. First, it implies that Eurabia's authorities are not planning to prosecute Hamas for the hundreds of murders committed by its members, and, therefore, it's okay to murder Jews, as long as their human rights are not violated in the process. Second, it promises that as soon as Hamas leaders find an opportune moment to issue an insincere statement asserting their profound respect for human rights, their organization will no longer be blacklisted. This will allow Eurabian governments to finance and arm Hamas without having to use as intermediaries those charitable organizations with minarets that grow all over the Old Continent.



And, last but not least, it is good for Eurabia, because it maintains an illusion that what was formerly known as Europe still has something left of its old dignity.



Trying to preserve what's left of American dignity, President George Bush publicly announced that Hizbullah must disarm. Although he said it in a very strict tone of voice and in the presence of the press, Hizbullah not only failed to disarm immediately, or at least promise to do so in the near future, it carelessly ignored our president's stern words altogether. I have a bad feeling that Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah does not respect the president. That's not good for anyone on this side of the War on Terror. But is it really unexpected, considering that our noble war is becoming as permanent and as meaningless as the War on Drugs, the War on Poverty, and a few other noble but totally meaningless wars that still go on, although nobody any longer cares to remember what they are about, mostly because they have miserably failed to render any real victories for this country?



But let us suppose that Hizbullah decided to heed President Bush's admonition and lay down its arms. What would happen next? It would become a perfectly legitimate political party, which, due to its huge popularity and the unstoppable democratization of the Middle East, would soon become a major political force in Lebanon. But wait! Hizbullah already is a major political force in Lebanon. So, what would change? Only one thing: its militia would merge with the Lebanese army. Would that be good for anyone on our side of the War on Terror? I don't think so.



Of course, things would have been very different had President Bush, instead of making meaningless sounds, undertaken practical steps towards physical eradication of Hizbullah and its members. But such steps would require courage and wisdom that don't seem to be able to survive in the Washington DC climate.



As if to prove my point, Mahmoud Abbas announced in a strict tone of voice that Hamas will have to disarm after the elections planned by the PLO for July 17. He was careful enough not to use the word "immediately". Therefore, if Hamas disarms any time between now and never, it will still be in compliance with Abu Mazen's edict. But why would Hamas wait so long? It could disarm today, take part in the upcoming elections and, due to its huge popularity and the unstoppable democratization of the PLO, become a major political force on Israeli-occupied Israeli territory. But wait! It is already a major political force there. So, what would change? Nothing.



Of course, things would have been very different had Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, instead of bleating humbly in the direction of Israel's enemies, led Israel to undertake practical steps towards physical eradication of Hamas and its members. But such a measure would require courage and wisdom that don't seem to be able to survive in the Jerusalem climate. That's very bad.