On the Palestinian Elections
| By TKeck - Jan 28th, 2006 at 5:29 pm EST |
Now that the votes have been tallied and the editorials written in most major newspapers, I will add my two cents on the elections. I just don't see it as that bad.
After all, Arafat's party did not spring up nonviolently. As an organization Hamas is far better organized, more populist and less corrupt than Fatah. Over and over, people are quoted acknowledging that Hamas is "closer" to the people with its financial and social support. However, with that support comes a theocratic agenda and its violent revolutionary rhetoric/actions.
But, now that Hamas has gained a parliamentary majority, the party must look to politics to solve their problems. If Hamas continues to call for the destruction of Israel, the party leadership will have squandered the enormous opportunity given to them. Due to the stict structure of Hamas, arguably, violence will be easier to control IF there is the political will to control it.
If Hamas chooses the path of moderation, thereby renouncing its call for the destruction of Israel and pledging its support for a peaceful two state solution, the ball will have succesfully moved to the Israeli's court. Then it will be up to the Labor party and Kadima (Sharon's new party) to back up their words with actions.
Of course, I understand this is a somewhat glossy summarization, but I would be curious to know what everyone thinks about the impact of the elections.
After all, Arafat's party did not spring up nonviolently. As an organization Hamas is far better organized, more populist and less corrupt than Fatah. Over and over, people are quoted acknowledging that Hamas is "closer" to the people with its financial and social support. However, with that support comes a theocratic agenda and its violent revolutionary rhetoric/actions.
But, now that Hamas has gained a parliamentary majority, the party must look to politics to solve their problems. If Hamas continues to call for the destruction of Israel, the party leadership will have squandered the enormous opportunity given to them. Due to the stict structure of Hamas, arguably, violence will be easier to control IF there is the political will to control it.
If Hamas chooses the path of moderation, thereby renouncing its call for the destruction of Israel and pledging its support for a peaceful two state solution, the ball will have succesfully moved to the Israeli's court. Then it will be up to the Labor party and Kadima (Sharon's new party) to back up their words with actions.
Of course, I understand this is a somewhat glossy summarization, but I would be curious to know what everyone thinks about the impact of the elections.
!
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It also, to some extent, gives the Palestinian people a stake in the terrorism, since they've voted for the terrorists (And yes, I know they have a lot of popular support for a variety of reasons - that's my point).
It's now far harder for someone to claim "The Palestinian people are the victims here, both of the Israelis and of the terrorists who de-legitimize their cause". They've made their bed, they've made it with the terrorists, and now they get to sleep in it.
And I don't necessarily think it's that they "made their bed with the terrorists." HAMAS has a pretty extensive civil services contingent, much like the Black Panther Party used to, and in the Palestinian territories, that means they did more for the average person than the P.A. did. The real fun is going to be watching them try to maintain these civil services now that they're under much more open scrutiny. It will not take much for them to fall out of favor with the public, and it'll take a lot to convince the people to keep them in office.
Should be interesting. Disconcerting, but interesting.
I know that, and I think I noted that in my post - though I might not have been as direct as humanly possible.
Nonetheless, that can't have been a reason to vote for Hamas; voting for Hamas brings the very predictable cutoffs in aid from America and the EU that will seriously degrade the quality of services provided to the average Palestinian. A vote for Hamas was not simply a vote along the lines of economic interests; it was a vote of rude defiance.
On a side note; has anyone here completed the Marva program in Israel? I'm seriously considering it, though I'd need to brush up on my Hebrew. Looks fun.
As for Israel, I do not condone any "retaliatory" attacks on Palestinians. I think it undermines the Israeli credibility and makes them look more like the aggressor than the victim.
I hope that both sides see this as an opportunity to conduct diplomacy through government instead of through violence.