So it looks like the terrorist group Hamas is now the official Palestinian government, but this shouldn't be a surprise to anyone who has read my "Break Their Will" series of posts about the need to undermine the Palestinians' widespread support for terrorism. As I wrote and quoted:
This poll of Palestinians taken in September, 2002, is not very encouraging. Here are some stats:
- 52% oppose peace negotiations with Israel.
- 73% are pessimistic of a reaching a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
- 66% are opposed to the Oslo agreement.
- 80% support the continuation of the al-Aqsa Intifada.
- 53% believe that the Intifada will achieve its object.
- 65% support suicide bombing operations against Israeli civilians [the poll question specifically mentions civilians].
These poll numbers support my belief that the Palestinian people themselves are a part of the problem, and need to be cowed.
Dealing with the Palestinians as a real state for the past 15 years has only made the situation deteriorate, and now we're stuck trying to figure out what to do with a democratically elected terrorist govnerment. Don't forget: the Palestinian government, now Hamas, is almost entirely funded by charity from Western nations.
Overall, this seems like a self-destructive move by the Palestinian people. It's hard to see how a Hamas-controlled government will be able to gain any consessions from Israel or any civilized nation. More likely this election will just hasten the implosion of the Palestinian territory.
I predict that the Palestinian Authority/Government/Club will internally combust in the end due to Hamas being the central power. There are essentially no checks and balances, and Hamas is comprised of a bunch of rabid, hate-filled murderers. That leads to a radical theocracy (see Taliban Regime), which accomodates more terrorism, which leads to a collapse of any type of economic or political stability, and ends up with the people being intrenched in worse poverty and crime than they thought possible.
This may be a good thing in the long run; radical political power shifts seldom end well, and electing insane leaders seldom end well. (though some may argue that it's not a true radical political power shift a cause de Hamas already having a stronghold in Palestinian culture).
The statistics you display implies an immanent tragic incident in the two State Israel/Palestine scenario. Throw in Iran, Syria and Oil Economics and you will you will have a world conflageration. Brace yourself for a wild ride that may change the landscape of the world.
Both the US and all the check writing EU states have said that if Hamas doesn't give up its militia, integrating it with PA security forces, and doesn't give up war with Israel in their charter, the checks will stop.
That's an entirely salutary attitude. Backtracking on those commitments will likely lead to efforts to label the backslider a "state supporter of terrorism". That's not going to do much good for the responsible politician in France, Germany, or Italy. We're getting into a "moment of clarity" and I can't think of another way we could have got here than the route we did.