THEY TELL LIES DON'T THEY?

On the very day on which it published cartoonist Michael Leunig's pithy explanation as to why he discriminates against an Israel which defends its citizens against the war crimes of Palestinian terrorism, this item also appeared in the Age: Netanyahu denounces 'deafening silence' on Hamas.

Speaking to foreign reporters, Mr Netanyahu accused the international community of double standards, condemning settlements that have not yet been built in the West Bank while standing quiet during a historic visit to the Gaza Strip by the exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshal.

Making his first trip to the Hamas-ruled territory at the weekend, Mr Meshal delivered a series of speeches to throngs of supporters vowing to wipe Israel off the map. The visit underscored the rising clout of Hamas and regional acceptance since its eight-day conflict with Israel last month.

Mr Netanyahu also directed his anger at the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, for not speaking out.

"This weekend the leader of Hamas, sitting next to the Hamas leader of Gaza, a man who praised Osama Bin Laden, this weekend openly called for the destruction of Israel. Where was the outrage? Where were the UN resolutions? Where was President Abbas?" Mr Netanyahu asked.

In case anyone has any doubts about Meshal's message, this news quote says it all: Hamas leader vows never to recognize Israel.

GAZA: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, making his first ever visit to the Gaza Strip, vowed on Saturday never to recognize Israel and said his Islamist group would never abandon its claim to all Israeli territory.

“Palestine is ours from the river to the sea and from the south to the north. There will be no concession on an inch of the land,” he told a sea of supporters at an open-air rally, the highlight of his three-day stay in Gaza.

“We will never recognize the legitimacy of the Israeli occupation and therefore there is no legitimacy for Israel, no matter how long it will take.”

This is the same Meshaal who last month was interviewed by CNN's Christiane Amanpour and lied:

Mashal To CNN: “We Are Not Behind Tel Aviv Bombing, We Accept State in 1967 Border”

In an exclusive interview with CNN’s, Christiane Amanpour, in the Egyptian Capital, Cairo, head of the Hamas Political Bureau, Khaled Mashal, stated that his movement is not behind the Tel Aviv bombing that took place Wednesday, and confirmed that Hamas accepts a Palestinian State in the 1967 territory, and is willing to join the nonviolent resistance.

In the last century another leader who was also an enemy of the Jews lied to the world about his intentions. Only fools like Leunig would accept such treachery to justify their attacks on the only true democracy in the region and its people. Try ducking out of that one!