Marquel, TPVs NYTimes Duplicity Section correspondent, was trying on green Robin Hood tights, when he read A Part of Hamas Negotiates, and Another May Fight Again. As Israel and the Palestinians prepared for talks to extend a truce, a senior Hamas leader said the group would keep its political and military wings separate, allowing the latter to prepare for another potential war. Marquel was uneasy reading this news but when he sat back eating spicy ribs and Mongolian noodles with curried rabbit sauce, Mufi put him at ease.
“These agreements don’t stop anyone,” he insisted, “look at the Nazi Soviet anti aggression pact. As soon as Hitler decided it was not in his interest, that pact was worth less than a Sad Sack comic.”
“But how can the Israelis negotiate with one part of Hamas while the other is still threatening war?” I asked.
“Easy,” he answered, “the Israelis have two parts also. All countries do, except I think for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Canada. The Israelis will sign an agreement with their prime minister, if at all, and the defense minister will continue with his plans to obliterate Hamas.”
“Everyone knows that?” I wondered.
“Except apparently for you,” he said, “more chili peppers? I didn’t think you were so naïve.”
“I guess I’m just irredeemably hopeful.” I said.
“Maybe Dante should have been more careful with his choice of words.” Said Mufi.
“You think he was a bad writer?” I questioned.
“At times he went for the thrill and left the truth behind. He was, after all, our first horror author.” He asserted.
“So where’d he go wrong?” I asked.
“When he said abandon hope all who enter here, he should have made clear he meant the world, not just the underworld.”
“Mufi, your an incorrigible pessimist.” I said.
“Eat your noodles. If by pessimist you mean realist, I plead guilty.” He asserted.
I wasn’t going to argue with Mufi. He had more international experience than all our living presidents, I knew.
But I had to see if there was evidence to this. I went to my Israeli contact, a former aide to Bibi, who knows him inside out.
“Did you ever suspect that Bibi isn’t a man of his word?” I asked, “I mean if he signs a peace treaty with Hamas is his word as good as gold?”
“Of course. It’s as good as all the shekels in the world.” He asserted.
“Even though the shekel keeps going down?” I questioned.
“Despite that,” he insisted.
“So there’s no way he can back out of a treaty with Hamas?” I wondered.
“”No way,” he said, “not the right handed Bibi.”
“He’s right handed?” I asked.
“No, he’s a lefty, but he signs agreements with his right hand.” He said.
“Why?” I asked.
“Obviously so that the left handed Bibi is not bound to the document.” He said.
“So his word isn’t as good as gold?” I asked.
“I said shekels. All of them.” He asserted.
“But he can change at any time.” I observed.
“Only for good reason.” He insisted.
“Does it say that in the document?” I questioned.
“Of course not. It doesn’t or won’t say that Hamas militia will keep the peace either.” He said.
“So if Hamas militia attacks, and Israel signed a peace treaty, it’s all out the window?” I asked.
“Not absolutely. Bibi will keep his right hand word but his left hand is free to protect us.”
“And Hamas militia?” I asked imploringly.
“Hey, don’t you think that’s a problem beyond our means? I’ll bet Hamas doesn’t even know what Hamas intends.”
“So where does that leave us?” I wondered.
“Where else? Same as always. The brink of disaster.”
There was obviously nothing more to say. Mufi might be right. I said, “L’hitraot.”
“He answered with “L’hit.”
See you soon.
***
Funny. and biting
now you’re picking on Dante? Marquel you have some big balls…maybe you should sell one on ebay
It’s ordinary New York chutzpah
Seriously funny. Well done.