The Victory of Hamas

Hamas has won a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council, the legislative branch of the Palestinian Authority. The mere fact that a truly fair election took place within the Arab World is itself a victory for democracy. On the other hand, the Nazis too came to power in Germany in 1932 via the ballot box. The real question now is how is the world going to respond to an Islamic extremist and terrorist body that seeks Israel's destruction and the establishment of a radical Islamist state for the Palestinians.

"We do not recognize the Israeli enemy, nor his right to be our neighbor, nor to stay (on the land), nor his ownership of any inch of land. . . . We are interested in restoring our full rights to return all the people of Palestine to the land of Palestine. Our principles are clear: Palestine is a land of Waqf (Islamic trust), which can not be given up."

Mahmoud Zahar, Hamas leader
January 17, 2006, Newsday

The world should make clear to the Palestinian people that a fanatic regime waging jihad and extending theocracy is unacceptable. Frankly, however, I seriously doubt we'll see such a response from the European, Russian, or U.N. members of the Middle East Road Map peace process.