Oct 17 - 46/45 - McCain +01
Hamas won the election?
Guest Columnist Ian Sigalow just returned from visiting his sister Emily in Israel. He shares his thoughts on the results of the recent elections in Palestine.“After returning from Israel on Sunday, I know that the Palestinian elections were an event on the minds of many Israelis. Now is a time of difficult politics in Israel, with nearby Iran calling for the destruction of your country and a newly freed area of Palestine on your border voting for a hostile political leadership that is intent on eradicating your people. As with all difficult times there is a lot of finger pointing in the press. Some blame the US for their insistence on early elections and polarizing presence in the Middle East. Others hold long standing hostility, and claim it is just the nature of the people. Either way the situation is not pretty..."
(continued in comments)
By Kyle - 1/26/2006
12 Comments:
Ian continues...
"The true problem is that there is no situation of compromise in the Middle East, no side arrangements that ameliorate the two parties. There is no equilibrium arrangement of land that makes both parties happy. And human behavior is also very complicated. Like many areas in the US, the poorest people have the highest birthrate. This means that populations in Gaza are booming even though there is extreme poverty, unemployment, and negligible sanitation. What results is perhaps the most dangerous place on Earth. Kidnappings occur regularly. Shiftless mobs roam the street. My guidebook, printed in 2002, included the following passage on Gaza. 'It is not recommended to go there. If you must, dress in traditional Islamic clothing and show no signs of being a foreigner.'
"What does this mean for Israel? Some people hope that the new Hamas government will be too overwhelmed with social issues to continue to attack neighboring Israel. Picking up the trash and finding clean water for millions of people is already beyond the capabilities of the current government. In the back of people’s minds, however, there is worry that these social issues will be too hard and the easier outcome will prevail. The easier outcome is this: rather than worry about providing services for your people, the new government will unilaterally enforce fundamental Islamic beliefs and focus all their energy on destroying Israel. Israel is prepared for either outcome, although the second path will result in horrific bloodshed and will have long reaching repercussions across the globe. While the US would support Israel’s right to self defense, the position in Europe is less certain (blatant anti-Semitism is still prevalent in Europe). And with instability in Iran Israel may find itself in a two front war, and an impossible political battle. This is the tough road ahead.”
Ian, great post. It should come as no surprise that fundamentalism and extremism wins elections in desperate countries.
I can't help but think of Iraq in the context of the Palestinian elections. What will we do if extreme anti-american elements win in Iraq as anti-Israeli elements have won in Palestine?
This comes at especially bad timing, considering the Sharon's apparent Terry Schiavo status.
Like you say, Ian, maybe (and hopefully) Hamas will just stay busy doing regular things.
I was very nervous about things prior to this election, just because Sharon seemed to be a very sensible voice for Israel. Now if he is gone, a more hard-nosed Israeli leader could come in, which would bang heads with Palestine.....and now that Hamas will run palestine, it could be even worse.
Anyway, not much ground breaking stuff in my comments. i guess time will tell.
I think this is a direct shot at Bush's "War on Terror".
Bush says that Iraq will be the example of democracy/freedom in the middle east. We've been over there for over 4 years and Iraq has hosted 3 elections I believe.
This "War on Terror" is not working.
It's scary to think people over there are endorsing Hamas and it means trouble for Israel. The bigger problem is people choosing terror in a democratic election and thats in direct conflict with Bush's war on terror.
Kyle, I think your comment is very important. The coming months in Iraq are very important and will serve as a gauge for this "war on terror".
Will a Prime Minister be elected that will bring a possible civil war and more terror in Iraq?
indirectly, i think everything ties into Israel. however, i think linking these likely tough times ahead to Bush's policy is sort of unjustified. similar to giving credit to bush for things in lybia. yes, they are linked, but not enough to make a big fuss about.
however, things happening in Iran are definitely fair to link. Iran fears the US (along with some craziness amongst the leaders), so they want The Bomb. If we don't invade Iraq, I don't think they are hurrying, as much, for The Bomb.
yeah well it was a free election - the first there in 10 yrs and they picked who they picked. now we and everyone has to deal with it. the side that loss is honorning the vote.
i think the outcome shows the effect Arafat had on the people there
"Bush says that Iraq will be the example of democracy/freedom in the middle east. We've been over there for over 4 years and Iraq has hosted 3 elections I believe."
- what do you mean by this - anoynomus- i think that is good - not bad - 3 elections in 4 yrs - and we have only been there 3 years since March 2003
I am making the point that we have been there enough time, for 4 years, helped with 3 elections, yes it's good, but it also shows that this "war on terror is not working".
With the election of Hamas, the chances of terror in the Middle East have doubled.
Also, Is Iraq the symbol of democracy and freedom that was envisioned by Bush? Today, I dont think it is, and the future is in doubt.
I posted before and put my name, but it marked anonymous.
It's true that Hamas is a radical organization. Yet, they won the vote by doing good things in Gaza and the West Bank - which Fatah wasn't doing.
It's better that one party won the majority as opposed to Hamas and Fatah sharing power. Although most people would like to see the former win.
I'd expect some shakey times in the Palestinian parlaiment - but eventually Hamas will meet with Israel.
In any circumstance, Israel will continue to pull out of the West Bank - this is what Israeli's want
Palestine isn't a desperate country, they just had fair-democratic elections. Although, it could be said, Israel was creditworthy of this.
Littler Zelin
ok mj thanks for clarifying
Chuck, great point about Israel electing a more radical leader in response to the Hamas victory. "Fight fire with fire."
Littler Zelin raises a good point too. What happens when the radicals are the ones who provide good schools, access to healthcare, and death to America?
I think Ian's point about Hamas now being responsible for administrating a state is a very important one. The beautiful thing about democracy is accountability. If Hamas does not provide for the people of Palestine (and there is good reason to believe they will not), the people will hold them accountable, and they will lose their power. Then the people will understand just how damaging their policies of terror and hate are and demand something better.
Just posted about this as well...it's titled, "Bush's Spreading of Democracy Bites Him In The Ass"
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