Am not sure how to word what I am thinking about the Palestinian elections.
We had near 80% participation, Hamas got around 65% of the seats in the Legislative Assembly. It seemed to be a festival day, not just an election, and remember, this is only the second democratic election the Palestinians have had. But, because they apparently voted for the wrong team, no one in the West seems to have anything nice to say about the potential incoming government.
Sure, they haven't torn up the part of their constitution saying that Israel doesn't have a right to exist - sure, they have been responsible for suicide bombings and terrorism. And sure, I understand the Israelis not wanting to have anything to do with them, but what were the alternatives for the Palestinians.
During Fatah's time at the Palestinian Authority helm, there has been corruption, nepotism, Israeli settlement building, and endless Israeli incursions into supposedly Palestinian territory. And, especially over the last year, a deteriorating sense of chaos. Dare I say it, probably what Israel wants in the Occupied Territories at this time, keeping the divisions going and splintering even further.
Or wanted, seeing as a probable Hamas government is the product at the moment. Hamas have kept a ceasefire going for about a year, and didn't mention destroying Israel in their campaign, rather focussing on the law and order in the territories themselves.
I was feeling like grinning, in a sardonic way, when Bush was on TV saying the US can't do deals with parties that pursue war. Weapons of mass destruction anyone?
If only the Israelis and Palestinians could come to some sort of arrangement over Jerusalem, then the Wall could be built on what could be agreed on borders, and we could have our two state solution - behind barbed wire and concrete of course, but it could be a solution. Maybe in another fifty years time, they would could trust each other enough to bring the wall down, but not in my lifetime probably...
Just a few thoughts, an opinion or two...
Paul
We had near 80% participation, Hamas got around 65% of the seats in the Legislative Assembly. It seemed to be a festival day, not just an election, and remember, this is only the second democratic election the Palestinians have had. But, because they apparently voted for the wrong team, no one in the West seems to have anything nice to say about the potential incoming government.
Sure, they haven't torn up the part of their constitution saying that Israel doesn't have a right to exist - sure, they have been responsible for suicide bombings and terrorism. And sure, I understand the Israelis not wanting to have anything to do with them, but what were the alternatives for the Palestinians.
During Fatah's time at the Palestinian Authority helm, there has been corruption, nepotism, Israeli settlement building, and endless Israeli incursions into supposedly Palestinian territory. And, especially over the last year, a deteriorating sense of chaos. Dare I say it, probably what Israel wants in the Occupied Territories at this time, keeping the divisions going and splintering even further.
Or wanted, seeing as a probable Hamas government is the product at the moment. Hamas have kept a ceasefire going for about a year, and didn't mention destroying Israel in their campaign, rather focussing on the law and order in the territories themselves.
I was feeling like grinning, in a sardonic way, when Bush was on TV saying the US can't do deals with parties that pursue war. Weapons of mass destruction anyone?
If only the Israelis and Palestinians could come to some sort of arrangement over Jerusalem, then the Wall could be built on what could be agreed on borders, and we could have our two state solution - behind barbed wire and concrete of course, but it could be a solution. Maybe in another fifty years time, they would could trust each other enough to bring the wall down, but not in my lifetime probably...
Just a few thoughts, an opinion or two...
Paul
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