Israel puts the squeeze on fledgling democracy

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"HAMAS prepares to take charge of the Palestinian parliament today, with Israel warning that the move will spark a diplomatic and economic blockade.

Newly elected MPs from Hamas - which had previously boycotted the Palestinian Authority and its institutions - were expected to nominate the Gaza leader Ismail Haniyeh as their candidate for prime minister.

However, Reuters reported yesterday that Mr Haniyeh denied he had been nominated.

"Hamas is still continuing its internal consultations to determine who will be asked to head the coming government," he told the news agency after a senior Hamas official said MPs had chosen him.

Aziz Dweik, a geography professor from Hebron, is the group's choice as parliamentary Speaker, next in line to succeed the Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, should he die or resign."

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[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. So much wanting to spread democracy.

What did we really expect? Did we not think they'd vote for the only people actually standing up for the people?