Responding to the plight of Palestinians in terms of healthcare, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert played good guy, in a voice that has too long been absent in the Middle East, saying that Israel would buy drugs and medical equipment for hospitals in Gaza, using funds it is withholding from tax and customs receipts it has collected for the Palestinians since Hamas came to power.
He went on to say, “We will pay if necessary out of our own pockets …. We wouldn't allow one baby to suffer one night because of a lack of dialysis."
Although he obviously had in mind his upcoming trip to Washington, we heard in him the clarion gong of opportunity for a productive dialogue with his currently Hamas-debilitated counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas.
Unfortunately, the Palestinians played deaf. We did not hear a chorus of applause from any of them or an intimation that Mr. Olmert might actually be someone they should consider talking with, instead of continuing to fire rockets at their own feet.
We know Abbas has ears to hear. The deafening question is, can he get his reluctant cohorts in Hamas to remove their hands from their resilient ears?
Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway and has written comedy for TV. Critics have called his writing ""delightfully funny" and "witty" with "good, genuine laughs." |
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