Ambiguity Alert

For some time there have been deep divisions among the Israeli public as to what the Palestinian leaders really mean when they make public pronouncements that sound a tad 'abrupt' to western ears. 

For instance, last night, an official Hamas spokesperson made the following cryptic statement:

"The time has come to kill the occupier" and then went on to encourage "Muslims to take whatever weapons they manage to obtain and to kill Jews wherever they find them, without hesitation." *

So it is now incumbent upon us to figure out what such vague statements are actually designed to communicate to the outside world and to the Palestinian 'Street'.

Perhaps it's a plea for more 'confidence building measures' from Israel, or for a restoration of foreign aid to previous levels.  After all, we're talking about an extremely proud people... and asking directly for concessions and hand-outs must be a terribly humiliating thing.

Clearly they don't really mean for their followers to do actual physical harm to random Israeli civilians (A.K.A. Jews), as that kind of threat would require that every Palestinian be viewed as a potential terrorist... something that would doom the burgeoning peace process.   

No, this is obviously an example of that poetic hyperbole for which these romantic desert dwellers have become so famous.

Let's face it, deciphering the hidden meaning behind such ambiguous statements is extremely tricky work, and is best left to professional diplomats and journalists. 

For my part, I'm willing to do my civic duty and assume a 'wait and see' attitude.

</sarcasm>

* source

Related post:  Here