U.S. does not negotiate with terrorists

OPINION:

When Canada announced that it would legitimize terrorist group Hamas with state recognition at the United Nations General Assembly in September, President Trump responded by questioning the future of U.S.-Canadian trade negotiations, and he was right to do so.

“Wow!” Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social. “Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!”

Mr. Trump’s response is the singular show of strength in a world where every other Western nation is crumbling beneath disastrous immigration and economic policies. They are conquered. British leaders can’t (won’t) even protect their daughters from grooming gangs in Rotherham.

While French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney abandon hostages, including Americans, and excuse Hamas’ genocidal Oct. 7, 2023, slaughter, Mr. Trump indicates that he will not.

Cue the hysterical “panicans” who cut and paste Hamas talking points by memeing that Mr. Trump’s statement means Israel “occupies” the United States. Not everyone believes it’s good business when trading partners reward terrorist groups and legitimize their tactics. Weakness is what compels Western nations to reward disorganized barbarism with statehood, and Mr. Trump would be foolish not to leverage this weakness to secure us a more favorable trade deal.

That the panicans believe this is the most important story, rather than the succession of weak Western allies eager to serve as geopolitical bacha bazi to terrorist groups, is astounding.

The Arab League demanded that Hamas “lay down its arms” and cede full control of the Gaza Strip to the Palestinian Authority to facilitate statehood. Canada, France and Portugal signed on to this declaration. Britain threatened Israel to cease fire or else it would recognize the territories’ statehood, an odd move considering that every ceasefire, including the one in effect on Oct. 6, was broken by Hamas.

Apparently, it’s irrelevant to the West whether the separate governing authorities are reconciled to the point where they can even hold an election. With such an achievement, Hamas has no incentive to relinquish its occupation of Gaza or its war against Israel, all while the world focuses solely on Israel’s treatment of Hamas’ Gaza residents but exhibits little to no concern for the treatment of Gaza civilians by Hamas, their democratically elected ruling entity.

Why does the world demand that Israel and Western nations care more for Gaza and Gaza civilians than Hamas and the Palestinian Authority?

Rewarding Hamas will not achieve a two-state solution.

The two-state solution is an empty platitude that world leaders routinely pitch without disclosing that it works only when both states recognize each other’s right to exist. Israel can’t recognize it for both of them. Hamas’ charter explicitly denies recognition of Israel’s right to exist. The Palestinian Authority can’t do it with Hamas waging dominant influence, to the point where the 2021 elections never materialized for fear that Hamas would win by a landslide and take control of both territories.

Of course, the Palestinian Authority ruthlessly scapegoated its Jewish neighbors for the postponement of the elections, as it was easier than telling the world at large that Hamas had won so much influence that it was poised to win it all. The Palestinian Authority is expected by Western nations and the Arab League to hold the line, but it cannot save itself from being overrun by Hamas. How is this to work?

Israel’s unilateral withdrawal and subsequent support of an enemy territory, even while the enemy territory bombs it from the rooftops of schools with munitions buried beneath hospitals, is generous by itself. Entertaining a two-state solution for a hostile, modern creation, of which the majority faction wants Israel dead, is supernatural grace.

The same world that expects Israel to provide for the terrorists who attack it also expects the United States to sanction its trading partners, who look to reward these same terrorists without a single concession.

Since 9/11, the United States has claimed to not negotiate with terrorists. Trading with those who blatantly reward terrorists is worse.

Whether on principle or for leverage, Mr. Trump is right.

• Dana Loesch is the host of the No. 1 nationally syndicated weekday talk program, “Dana Show,” a bestselling author and a Second Amendment advocate. She lives in Dallas.