Hamas Wins, And Things Are Only Going To Get Messy
Intolerable. That is my reaction to the terrorist group, Hamas, winning the vote in Israel for the Palestinian Authority. Just remember this little factoid: Iran is celebrating this victory.
David Horovitz, not to be confused with David Horowitz, called the elections an "earthquake."
The earthquake whose warning rumblings the secular Palestinian leadership insistently refused to heed has struck. The era of Fatah is over. The Islamists have taken control. ...
Until yesterday, Israel and the rest of the West were grappling with the problem of how to relate to a Hamas minority in a still Fatah-dominated new Palestinian Authority government, as deaf as Abbas and his colleagues to the scale of the shift on the Palestinian street. Now there can be no escaping the Islamist reality, even if Abbas proves prepared to serve as the fig-leaf, the acceptable, secular, face of the Palestinians' new leadership.
Until yesterday, Israel and much of the West were issuing demands that Hamas put down its arms as a pre-condition for substantive contacts, that it abide by the democratic pre-condition for one rule of law, one legitimate force of arms. Now Hamas's leaders might assert that, in apparently fair elections, the Palestinian public has entrusted them with the rule of law, that they bear the single legitimate force of arms.
Ordinary Palestinians will tell you that they voted for Hamas because the Fatah PA cheated them and stole from them, whereas the Islamists have proved themselves exemplars of good governance at the local level. Many will stress that their vote for Hamas was not a ballot for a renewed campaign of suicide bombings and shooting attacks on Israeli targets.
No offense, but if that is indeed the view that ordinary Palestinians profess, then they are as foolish as the turtle who gave the scorpion a ride across a stream. And they will feel much like the turtle after the scorpion stings them; all because it was in their nature. Hamas announced before this election that they would not disarm. This election was doomed from the start, and perpetuated by a reactionary public that either: A) Threw a temper-tantrum, and wanted a change in leadership, or B) Were like lambs led to the slaughter.
Jonah Goldberg weighed in on the election, and while I respect the man's intelligence and opinions, I must disagree with him with his optimism.
1. These were free elections and Fatah appears to be honoring their result. That is a huge victory for democracy and shouldn't be downplayed.
2. The bad news is that Hamas did very well. This doesn't speak well of the Palestinian electorate -- but it speaks even worse of Arafat's dying regime. The silver lining (see point 1) is that there is now democratic accountability or, more accurately, a precedent for accountability.
Point One is well understood, but I disagree on Point Two. The democratic accountability will only embolden Hamas. As long as they are the ones controlling the reins, the laws will be subject to interpretation; all theirs. And because they did win in such a large margin, it is likely to be explained that the people spoke, and they want the continued violence. In the run-up to the election, Israeli faced near-daily attacks from the terrorists in Gaza. Hamas was among these terrorists. A victory here, now, at the ballot box is only going to make things worse.
Pajamas Media has a great round up of links, but here is a few to whet your appetite for the reaction around the blogs.
Patrick Belton of Oxblog, writing from the land where he has been witnessing the electoral process: "It's not clear anyone wanted this, least of all Hamas, who in assuming the administration of the Palestinian national authority's creaking and often bureaucracy single-handed in a moment when its sole lifeline of European and other international support appears threatened, may just have stumbled into the biggest molasses patch the Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah has ever faced. Unlike the Lib Dems of 1985, Hamas did not go to its constituencies to prepare for government. It had prepared for a coalition, or possibly for pristine opposition, but not this. Official results, once promised for 9 am, now will come out at the end of the day; Hamas is claiming 70 seats, in a 132-member parliament."
Which only confirms my fears about Mr. Goldberg's statement. If Hamas was not prepared for this, then it will be hard-pressed to stay within the confines of the laws and the government. This was a landslide for them, but there is still opposition to their rule. Remember, they only have 76 (announced this morning at 11:31 AZ Time) out of 132 seats.
Powerpundit: "Complicate is an understatement, as this now presents a major roadblock to peace in the Middle East. Hamas is responsible for many, many Israeli civilian deaths, and if it has a major role in Palestinian government then it is highly unlikely that Israel will be able to bring itself to trust such a government enough to make any meaningful moves that will lead to the hope of a lasting peace."
And that was the plodding road that Israel was on. They were doing what they could to truly push peace forward. Now, that process is in jeopardy.
Daimnation: "Considering the years of incitement and propaganda to which the Palestinians have been subjected, not to mention to corruption, incomptence and authoritarianism of Fatah, I can't say this result was unexpected. If the Palestinians believe they're better off with genocidal Islamofascists running their government, so be it. It's their choice, and they'll find out the hard way what it's like living under a Hamas government."
Heh. Indeed they will. Hence the "messy" in the title.
Clive Davis: "Hamas's new media consultant is already hard at work on that 'image problem'"
Uh-huh. You get back to us on that one. "Image problem" is an understatement. Hamas has been known to be one of--if not the--main problems for Israel, as the lead terrorist organization against the Jews. The image problem does not end at Israeli borders; it extends around the world. In this position, as Patrick from Oxblog pointed out, they will be hard-pressed to maintain their European allies and supporters.
Roger Simon notes the reports that Hamas supporters have stormed into the Palestinian parliament amid clashes with Fatah loyalists, and writes: "Actually, on ten minutes reflection (it's pretty early here in LA), I am glad Hamas won. Elections should reflect the will of the people and this one reflects the will of the Palestinians. Now we know."
We have always "known," but this is simply confirmation. The question reamins whether the Palestinian people truly understand what they just put in power. Hamas is a panther, and you cannot housebreak a cat like that.
The president also weighed in on the Hamas victory.
I don't see how you can be a partner in peace if you advocate the destruction of a country as part of your platform. And I know you can't be a partner in peace if your party has an armed wing...I will continue to remind people about what I just said...I've talked to Condi twice this morning. She called President Abbas...
The United States does not support political parties that want to destroy our ally, Israel...
Let us hope and pray the president is serious about this stance. With Israel facing two enemies in Hamas and Iran--both connected through their terrorist ties--the last thing we need is an incident where Hamas gets their hands on a crude nuclear device through Iran, and decides to detonate it in Israel. The problems with Iran just escalated with this victory, and Israel's recent troubles just multiplied.
The best news seems to come from this analysis from the Belmont Club.
Hamas may have won the Palestinian elections, which may in turn make Benjamin Netanyahu the next Prime Minister of Israel. CNN is now reporting that the current Palestinian government has resigned. The election of Hamas taken together with the crisis in Iran suggests that that the world is being challenged by very deeply rooted forces which traditional international institutions may be incapable of handling. The way to safety hangs on events that haven't resolved themselves yet. Whether the policy of democraticization has blunted the rush to madness -- Egyptian blogger the Big Pharaoah thinks Middle East democracy boosts Islamists; whether Iran will acquire the bomb; whether Israel will draw its sword to prevent it; whether Syria's ruling dynasty will fall; whether Europe will break out of its demographic death-spiral. Because success relies so much on the exploitation of contingent events it's a dangerous time for America to be divided, with one side unsure of whether any real danger besides BushchimpHitler exists and the other in the grip of a half-articulated policy; both almost fatalistically slouching towards a future where there are no certain or even probable endings.
Indeed. The administration had best pay very close attention to the new Hamas government, and be prepared to completely freeze them out should they decide that the political win translates to approval of Hamas' continued violence.
The Bunny ;)
Intolerable. That is my reaction to the terrorist group, Hamas, winning the vote in Israel for the Palestinian Authority. Just remember this little factoid: Iran is celebrating this victory.
David Horovitz, not to be confused with David Horowitz, called the elections an "earthquake."
The earthquake whose warning rumblings the secular Palestinian leadership insistently refused to heed has struck. The era of Fatah is over. The Islamists have taken control. ...
Until yesterday, Israel and the rest of the West were grappling with the problem of how to relate to a Hamas minority in a still Fatah-dominated new Palestinian Authority government, as deaf as Abbas and his colleagues to the scale of the shift on the Palestinian street. Now there can be no escaping the Islamist reality, even if Abbas proves prepared to serve as the fig-leaf, the acceptable, secular, face of the Palestinians' new leadership.
Until yesterday, Israel and much of the West were issuing demands that Hamas put down its arms as a pre-condition for substantive contacts, that it abide by the democratic pre-condition for one rule of law, one legitimate force of arms. Now Hamas's leaders might assert that, in apparently fair elections, the Palestinian public has entrusted them with the rule of law, that they bear the single legitimate force of arms.
Ordinary Palestinians will tell you that they voted for Hamas because the Fatah PA cheated them and stole from them, whereas the Islamists have proved themselves exemplars of good governance at the local level. Many will stress that their vote for Hamas was not a ballot for a renewed campaign of suicide bombings and shooting attacks on Israeli targets.
No offense, but if that is indeed the view that ordinary Palestinians profess, then they are as foolish as the turtle who gave the scorpion a ride across a stream. And they will feel much like the turtle after the scorpion stings them; all because it was in their nature. Hamas announced before this election that they would not disarm. This election was doomed from the start, and perpetuated by a reactionary public that either: A) Threw a temper-tantrum, and wanted a change in leadership, or B) Were like lambs led to the slaughter.
Jonah Goldberg weighed in on the election, and while I respect the man's intelligence and opinions, I must disagree with him with his optimism.
1. These were free elections and Fatah appears to be honoring their result. That is a huge victory for democracy and shouldn't be downplayed.
2. The bad news is that Hamas did very well. This doesn't speak well of the Palestinian electorate -- but it speaks even worse of Arafat's dying regime. The silver lining (see point 1) is that there is now democratic accountability or, more accurately, a precedent for accountability.
Point One is well understood, but I disagree on Point Two. The democratic accountability will only embolden Hamas. As long as they are the ones controlling the reins, the laws will be subject to interpretation; all theirs. And because they did win in such a large margin, it is likely to be explained that the people spoke, and they want the continued violence. In the run-up to the election, Israeli faced near-daily attacks from the terrorists in Gaza. Hamas was among these terrorists. A victory here, now, at the ballot box is only going to make things worse.
Pajamas Media has a great round up of links, but here is a few to whet your appetite for the reaction around the blogs.
Patrick Belton of Oxblog, writing from the land where he has been witnessing the electoral process: "It's not clear anyone wanted this, least of all Hamas, who in assuming the administration of the Palestinian national authority's creaking and often bureaucracy single-handed in a moment when its sole lifeline of European and other international support appears threatened, may just have stumbled into the biggest molasses patch the Harakat al-Muqawamah al-Islamiyyah has ever faced. Unlike the Lib Dems of 1985, Hamas did not go to its constituencies to prepare for government. It had prepared for a coalition, or possibly for pristine opposition, but not this. Official results, once promised for 9 am, now will come out at the end of the day; Hamas is claiming 70 seats, in a 132-member parliament."
Which only confirms my fears about Mr. Goldberg's statement. If Hamas was not prepared for this, then it will be hard-pressed to stay within the confines of the laws and the government. This was a landslide for them, but there is still opposition to their rule. Remember, they only have 76 (announced this morning at 11:31 AZ Time) out of 132 seats.
Powerpundit: "Complicate is an understatement, as this now presents a major roadblock to peace in the Middle East. Hamas is responsible for many, many Israeli civilian deaths, and if it has a major role in Palestinian government then it is highly unlikely that Israel will be able to bring itself to trust such a government enough to make any meaningful moves that will lead to the hope of a lasting peace."
And that was the plodding road that Israel was on. They were doing what they could to truly push peace forward. Now, that process is in jeopardy.
Daimnation: "Considering the years of incitement and propaganda to which the Palestinians have been subjected, not to mention to corruption, incomptence and authoritarianism of Fatah, I can't say this result was unexpected. If the Palestinians believe they're better off with genocidal Islamofascists running their government, so be it. It's their choice, and they'll find out the hard way what it's like living under a Hamas government."
Heh. Indeed they will. Hence the "messy" in the title.
Clive Davis: "Hamas's new media consultant is already hard at work on that 'image problem'"
Uh-huh. You get back to us on that one. "Image problem" is an understatement. Hamas has been known to be one of--if not the--main problems for Israel, as the lead terrorist organization against the Jews. The image problem does not end at Israeli borders; it extends around the world. In this position, as Patrick from Oxblog pointed out, they will be hard-pressed to maintain their European allies and supporters.
Roger Simon notes the reports that Hamas supporters have stormed into the Palestinian parliament amid clashes with Fatah loyalists, and writes: "Actually, on ten minutes reflection (it's pretty early here in LA), I am glad Hamas won. Elections should reflect the will of the people and this one reflects the will of the Palestinians. Now we know."
We have always "known," but this is simply confirmation. The question reamins whether the Palestinian people truly understand what they just put in power. Hamas is a panther, and you cannot housebreak a cat like that.
The president also weighed in on the Hamas victory.
I don't see how you can be a partner in peace if you advocate the destruction of a country as part of your platform. And I know you can't be a partner in peace if your party has an armed wing...I will continue to remind people about what I just said...I've talked to Condi twice this morning. She called President Abbas...
The United States does not support political parties that want to destroy our ally, Israel...
Let us hope and pray the president is serious about this stance. With Israel facing two enemies in Hamas and Iran--both connected through their terrorist ties--the last thing we need is an incident where Hamas gets their hands on a crude nuclear device through Iran, and decides to detonate it in Israel. The problems with Iran just escalated with this victory, and Israel's recent troubles just multiplied.
The best news seems to come from this analysis from the Belmont Club.
Hamas may have won the Palestinian elections, which may in turn make Benjamin Netanyahu the next Prime Minister of Israel. CNN is now reporting that the current Palestinian government has resigned. The election of Hamas taken together with the crisis in Iran suggests that that the world is being challenged by very deeply rooted forces which traditional international institutions may be incapable of handling. The way to safety hangs on events that haven't resolved themselves yet. Whether the policy of democraticization has blunted the rush to madness -- Egyptian blogger the Big Pharaoah thinks Middle East democracy boosts Islamists; whether Iran will acquire the bomb; whether Israel will draw its sword to prevent it; whether Syria's ruling dynasty will fall; whether Europe will break out of its demographic death-spiral. Because success relies so much on the exploitation of contingent events it's a dangerous time for America to be divided, with one side unsure of whether any real danger besides BushchimpHitler exists and the other in the grip of a half-articulated policy; both almost fatalistically slouching towards a future where there are no certain or even probable endings.
Indeed. The administration had best pay very close attention to the new Hamas government, and be prepared to completely freeze them out should they decide that the political win translates to approval of Hamas' continued violence.
The Bunny ;)
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 12:55 PM
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