Again - how has this not been commented on in here? Hamas won the Palestinian Elections. What kind of impact do you think that this will have on the Middle East? Here are a few links to get your minds going... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 650788.stm also has several links to other useful articles http://www.iht.com/bin/print_ipub.php?f ... s/pals.php http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/01/ ... index.html And it would be nice if we could have this discussion without descending into unpleasantness, rascism, etc.
Hard to say. My first thought is that it might represent a poisoned chalice for Hamas. You can't be against the establishment when your part of the establishment. Also being the largest party people are going to look to them for all sorts of things. 'Death to Israel!*' Might make a good election slogan but it's not much of an answer to a member of your electorate moaning that his street has no sewer. Bottom line Hamas has to provide concrete solutions for the myriad of Palestinian problems. Bombs and bullets will not provide these solutions so Hamas must change or see its support drain away again. For anyone thinking 'never negotiate with terrorists' I draw your attention to Northern Ireland. Much as I personally despise SF and their stormtroopers the IRA Negotiation has offered Ireland something approaching peace. *This phrase has been used here for purely illustrative purposes.
Well, Ebar, there is much to be said for your comments, which I mostly agree with. However, I would like to point out that hatred of any kind has many times been used to gloss over problems in many nations, historically speaking, by shifting the blame for them to outside agencies (to explain why the problems aren't fixed) or to simply distract the populace while the ruler grabs more and more power (Nazi Germany springs to mind). So we shall have to see just what Hamas does. IMHO, I think it's going to be "Kitty, bar the door!", with Hamas launching massive attacks against Israel. I may be wrong about that (and I frankly hope that I am), but I don't think so. As for the IRA, I would like to point out that the total annihilation of Great Britain was never one of their goals; this does allow them and their Sinn Fein supporters some wiggle room. But it may well be that the Troubles are far from over, and that this, too, is just the lull before the storm.
The ideological differences between IRA and Hamas make for only a fine distinction when it comes the nature of their attacks. My hometown was bombed twice by the IRA, hence the reason I don’t regard them with much enthusiasm or trust. However to be honest an IRA return to violence is getting less and less likely. SF has gained a lot of votes North and South of the border but is well aware that a lot of that support would vanish if the IRA renewed the armed struggle. Returning to Hamas the next few months are going to be interesting. If they can start down the road of peace then return to violence becomes harder and harder. One thing we should be clear on is that peace will not be achieved this year or next year or the year after that. It will take decades possibly generations. The big question is does Hamas have the will or the self-discipline? That is the million dollar question.
It is indeed. And I can tell you what I think the answer to that question is: Not a chance! But we shall have to wait and see.
We should at least give them a chance to prove their goodwill; if they don't have any that will soon become apparent, after which nobody would ever have to doubt again. It's a risk you take, though...
Ah, but it's not us taking the risk, really, is it? None of us are in Palestine, so we won't really suffer.
I was trying to avoid being called an inconsiderate monster by adding that line; I don't want to come across as someone willing to risk a few lives as long as they belong to a foreign people. That is not what I was trying to say, I wasn't trying to make the risk seem acceptable. However the Palestinians lack alternatives.
The Paelstinians do have alternatives, Roel; in fact, they've always had them. They have simply refused to try any of them in the past, preferring the road of violence and hatred. But will they now choose to try living in peace with Israel? That is the question, and the vital one.
What I mean is that their election ran between two political parties which are both essentially terrorist organizations. Therefore the average Palestinian voter doesn't have much of a choice.
Ah, I see. True enough, but the vital question still remains: which road will the Palestinians choose?
Well, while the Middle E|ast seems to have been relativel quiet since, it seems that Hamas are having trouble keeping their house in order... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle ... 983510.stm
the wall seems to be working fairly well for the israelies.im afraid we will have to build one here in the u.s. as well...if you guys havent yet seen the new speilberg movie :munich...i highly recomend it ...a sobering look at endless arab ,jew vendeta.
It will make no difference since Fatah has the exact same goals. Hamas has not been any more moderate since it has been elected, nor will it. It won power without changing, which showed it that change is not only unneccessary but undesirable.
