Hamas claims parliamentary majority

[JI7]

A Hamas leader says an initial count of votes shows the militant Islamist group has won a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament, putting it in a position to shape a new government.

"Hamas has won more than 70 seats in Gaza and the West Bank, which gives it more than 50 per cent of the vote," Ismail Haniyeh said.

The electoral commission had no immediate comment and was expected to issue results later.

Exit polls showed Hamas had won at least 53 seats and that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement had got 58.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Hamas-claims-parliamentary-majority/2006/01/26/1138066912941.html

[regnaD kciN]

1. Sigh...

Canada turns the government over to the Conservatives.

Hamas takes over the Palestinian Authority.

Alito seems destined for confirmation.

This has been one of the worst weeks I can imagine. :-(

[rodeodance]

2. yes, it was a downer.

[rodeodance]

3. Dots need to be connected between Buch push for democracy and

election of terror groups/(not our fiends groups) into parliments.
Afgan, Lybia, Iraq and now Palestine. Representation is small in some caes but still evident.

[rodeodance]

4. Cnn kept saying Ashtonishing--Unexpented, etc. I am amazed that these

"news' casters are not following what is going on in the ME>

[anakie]

5. the same people

are also the ones who are surprised at the insurgency in Iraq.

[Behind the Aegis]

6. Never underestimate the ignorant...

...it is how we got Bush...yet, again!

[endarkenment]

7. Blowback.

This is a direct consequence of the Bush Cabal's Iraqi Blunder and massive policy tilt towards Israel. Oh and guess what: its Democracy. The Palestinians get to decide who will run their affairs, not us or the Israelis.

[bemildred]

8. Yup. nt

[Not_So_Right_Wing]

9. Don't forget corruption...

Like Canada before it, the Palestinian people were rejecting the corrupt government and replacing it with something different. I think the Palestinian people were sick and tired of living under the rule of people who were stealing from the treasury while the masses suffered.
This set back gives the Fatah party time to reorganize and come back as more principled group of people committed to change.

[endarkenment]

10. Yes indeed Fatah was totally corrupt

and Hamas has a long history of providing honest decent social services alongside their hideous terrorist network. The people running Hamas are very smart and very committed to what they are doing. Kind of like the IRA, they are going at it from every angle.

[Igel]

12. Part of that is because they have a mini-theocracy going.

Zakat, Qutb-inspired Islam, and honor are the driving forces behind Hamas. Along with a modicum of ignorance on the part of the populace, but that goes without saying.

[Hyernel]

11. Sharon is spinning in his coma bed!

[wellst0nev0ter]

13. Didn't The Bushies Spend $2 million Promoting Fatah?

The Reverse Midas Touch still in effect. Mission accomplished :grr:

[radfringe]

14. ohhhhh... the irony

"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," Bush told a news conference. "You can't be a partner in peace if ... your party has got an armed wing."

advocate the destruction of a country as part of your platform ...ummmm Iraq, Iran,North Korea? Axis of Evil?

You can't be a partner in peace if ... your party has got an armed wing....errrr republicans?

[gonzo8]

15. Not to mention the kooky settlers, most of whom are armed to the teeth!