Hamas Hires Spin Doctor

How's this for "carrying coals to Newcastle": The Guardian yesterderday reported (free registration required) that Hamas has hired a spin doctor to improve its image in the media.

The paper says Hamas is paying this joker $180,000 "to persuade Europeans and Americans that it is not a group of religious fanatics who relish suicide bombings and hate Jews."

Get this:

Mr Aqtash, who says he is not a member of Hamas and does not know where it got the money to pay him but frequently refers to the group as "we", says he has told the leadership it has to change its rhetoric. He says Hamas has not helped itself by celebrating suicide bombings; he advises against celebration. And he has told Hamas leaders not to talk about destroying Israel.

"Abdel Aziz Rantisi [the former Hamas leader killed by Israel two years ago] was on
television saying things that foreigners cannot accept, like we will remove Israel from the map. He should have talked about Palestinian suffering. He should have said we need this occupation ended. Foreigners will accept this," he said.

Yes, and they will. Hey, these people aren't dumb. The western media is of course already sympathetic to terrorist sob stories, as the New York Times story yesterday demonstrated, so this terrorist PR offensive stands every chance of succeeding.

------------------

To read the most recent items in this blog, click here!