Rubin: “So should the United States be dealing with that new reality through normal diplomatic contacts to get the job done for the United States?”

Sen. McCain: “I think the United States should take a step back, see what they do when they form their government, see what their policies are, and see the ways that we can engage with them, and if there aren’t any, there may be a hiatus. But I think part of the relationship is going to be dictated by how Hamas acts, not how the United States acts.”

This answer is consistent with everything else McCain said at the time about the election of Hamas to governing status in the Palestinian territories. He told Rubin, CNN, and said in a press release that the election gave Hamas an opportunity to reject violence, renounce the destruction of Israel as a goal, and act like a legitimate political party rather than a terrorist organization. If they did that, then the US would find ways to engage with them. If not, McCain said a hiatus would occur in diplomatic contacts with the PA — which is exactly what happened.

This shows considerable dishonesty on the part of Rubin. The Washington Post should issue a retraction of this column forthwith.

David