Hamas Has Strong Election Showing

[drdon326]

- Hamas made a strong showing in local elections in the West Bank, the first time the Islamic militant group competed at the polls, according to preliminary elections results obtained Friday.

The apparent show of support for Hamas came as leaders of its main rival in the election — the ruling Fatah (news - web sites) movement — are pushing to resume peace talks with Israel. Hamas is pledged to Israel's destruction and opposes negotiations.


Elections for local councils were held in 26 communities on Thursday, with some 150,000 eligible voters choosing from among more than 800 candidates. Sixteen percent of the 360 local council seats were reserved for women.

snip

According to preliminary results obtained by The Associated Press, Fatah movement won a majority of council seats in 14 towns, while Hamas took control in nine communities. In two towns, a joint Hamas-Fatah slate won, indicating that the rivalry was at times blunted by local issues and clan loyalties.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20041224/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians
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Wow....Hamas, that has pledged to destroy Israel, has a strong

showing. :eyes:

[Maple]

1. Extremist Jews

determined to take over the entire area and eliminate Palestinians, also have a political party...in the Knesset.

[QueerJustice]

8. Which Party?

[newyorican]

2. Not surprising...

"...their (Hamas) real purpose which is trying to improve the lot of poor Palestinians..."

[bemildred]

3. This seems like a bigger deal than you might think.

The elections were held, and Hamas was allowed to put up candidates
and to win some seats. That is quite unusual historically, and one
has to wonder why this is being allowed now, especially if the result
is allowed to stand.

[The Magistrate]

4. It Has Interesting Features, My Friend

Viewed crudely the results suggest a voting strength of roughly forty percent for Hamas in areas it was expected it would do poorly in. That seems about in line with "the little birds tell me" estimates of the degree of support for Hamas among the people of Arab Palestine.

Doubtless Hamas will make an uncomfortable participant in any electoral and democratic polity that may evolve; the record of parties that rise on the strength of the gun in such arrangements is not too good.

[bemildred]

5. Facts on the ground, Sir.

I think we must disagree a bit.

Hamas must be included, for there to be any chance for success in a
political process; and I don't see any parties to this dispute that
did not get where they are without the extensive and enthusiastic use
of violence, nor is such "strength of the gun" a strange thing among
political parties or men, as you well know.

What I found interesting is that it suggests that the Israeli Gov't
is for one reason or another willing to allow an honest political
process to begin/proceed now, and while that is most definitely a
good thing, it leads to speculation as to why? Various ideas come to
mind, but I don't see any way to sort them out yet.

That said, I expect you are right about the uncomfortable part, and
certainly it's a chancy business.

Edit: BTW, Happy Early Winter Buying Frenzy, Sir.

[The Magistrate]

9. Perhaps My Expression Was Inexact, Sir

It must have been if it left you he impression it was my feeling Hamas must or should be excluded from the political process now being set in train. It would certainly be my preference to see that organization broken to the dust in blood and fire, but as matters stand now, it exists, and for better or worse stands as representative of a sizeable bloc of feeling among the people of Arab Palestine. Therefore in anything that is to claim the name of democratic process, it must be admitted to take part. It may be that such participation may tame its excesses somewhat, though it is certain understandable if some people feel will not occur.

It is hard to see what option the Israeli government would have beyond allowing a reasonably honest political process among Arab Palestinians just now. Perhaps the coldest reason for it that comes to my mind is sheer reconnaisance, to learn what the actual balance of political power is in that society. It would be a most valuable datum.

[bemildred]

12. No, that was clear enough, it was the "strength of the gun" thing.

I was merely making that point clear, that they would have to be
included, in the context of saying that I don't find them different
from a host of other political gangs of one sort or another, e.g.
the IRA, LTTE, the current government of the USA, to name a couple
of current ones, some of which are "respectable" and some of which
are not. While I can understand disliking them, I can't say that
they look unusual, or any less likely to be a force for order once
it serves their interests to do so. But then you know of my cynical
and misanthropic views.

[The Magistrate]

13. That Is True Enough, My Friend

As with fortunes, so with states; generally at their foundation rests a great crime....

[Lithos]

6. I don't know about that

Irish politics has had some interesting reversals. Same with South Africa.

L-

[King Mongo]

7. The interests of the people

It seems as if the people seem to elect those whom they can trust the most and those who do the most to defend them from the growth of the occupation. The current ruling party must be seen by many people as a corrupt political structure that uses foreign bribes to negotiate for things that can't be achieved without a gun, such as equality for everyone or a two-state solution based upon fair agreements.

[The Magistrate]

10. Nonesense, Your Grace

Hamas has done nothing whatever that protects the people of Arab Palestine from "growth of the occupation". The actions of that body have rather tended to result in an increased straitness of the condition of the occupation. The gun has achieved nothing of benefit for the people of Arab Palestine: for the eighty years and more this conflict hes been waged, use opf the gun has brought the people of Arab Palestine progressively diminished prospects, in terms of territory and prosperity and political authority.

[King Mongo]

11. Agreed

Palestinians cannot stop illegal settlement growth. They simply don't have the means to do it. Even if they breathe, their breath will be used as an excuse to remove them from the holy land. Their only choice is to move to America or somewhere else where they won't get killed.