After Hamas takes over, What?

Another radical Middle East government?

Published on January 26, 2006 By adnauseam In Current Events

I am not an expert on the Middle East but two thoughts went through my mind upon hearing of Hamas' almost certain victory in the Palestinian elections:
Firstly, I was completely negative. I worry that Hamas will become a third radical government in the Middle East (with Syria and Iran---which is almost Middle East). I considered that perhaps these States were becoming radically altered in their mindset due to anti-US sentiment and that their peoples were rebelling against the authority of George Bush due to his Iraq venture. A radical Middle East could upset the balance of power in the region and, God forbid, put the US and its allies into a really awkward position. Imagine, if you will, the Arab states rising up against the West. It will not be a small problem, especially when we consider that the US is so committed in Iraq (manpower could be very stretched!).

Secondly, I thought, optimistically, that Hamas might come to its senses once in power (They say they cannot deal with Israel but how can they avoid it?). Perhaps when they look at the big picture they will become more responsible and rein in their bombers and radical fighters. Perhaps Hamas will form a responsible government that can influence the masses and calm them. Perhaps Hamas will become the New Hamas?

I could be in cloud cuckoo land, but for the sake of peace, I hope I'm not.

Comments (Page 2)

COL Gene

on Jan 28, 2006

The issue is NOT what the Palestinians think about Bush. The issue is WHAT POLICY SHOULD WE FOLLOW? To continue to follow a policy that is NOT WORKING is not smart. This has nothing to do with bashing Bush. It has EVERYTHING to do with accepting reality! You and others on JoeUser seem to be like Bush in that you NEVER look at reality and make choices biased on the results. Bush has said many times, judge by results. I AGREE. Let’s do just that!

ParaTed2k

on Jan 28, 2006

Colgene, sadly, every breath you take seems to be about nothing but bash Bush.. which is why there is no reason for anyone to care what you have to say.

COL Gene

on Jan 28, 2006

Every answer you and others on this Blog site provide is, "All you do is Bash Bush” That is your term. The issue is that OUR policy (Like that better then the Bush policy) IS NOT WORKING. What do we do now? That is the same question about OUR Energy Policy, Fiscal Policy, and Immigration Policy. OUR POLICIES ARE NOT producing solutions!
WHY would anyone continue doing something that is not producing results?

marouki

on Jan 28, 2006

1. Pour la victoire du Hamas, il faut signaler que le Hamas n'a pas participé aux dernières ligislatives. J'estime que c'est un changement de cap positive de la vie politique palestinienne. Hamas entre dans le jeu car sa position n'a cessé de s'affermir, notamment grâce à ses activités caritatives, et ne cessera de le faire, surtout dans les municipalités conquises, alors que le Fatah était et reste pénalisé par l'arrêt des négociations avec Israël...

2. Au sein du Hamas, il y a au moins deux lignes qui s’affrontent. L’une, pragmatique, veut assumer des responsabilités politiques. L’autre, plus idéologique, se refuse à toute perspective de négociation avec Israël. Je crois que cette deuxième aile, jusque-là majoritaire, est en train de perdre du terrain. Il est souhaitable que le Hamas puisse accéder à toutes les responsabilités, qu’il ne se contente pas de slogans tout faits mais improductifs, qu’il devienne une force de propositions. Si le Hamas est associé à l’exécutif, et donc à la reprise du dialogue avec les Israéliens, les rapports avec Israël seront totalement modifiés. C’est d’ailleurs pourquoi les Israéliens tentent de bloquer la participation de ce parti aux élections, interdisant à ses candidats de faire campagne à Jérusalem-Est. Bien sûr, le gouvernement israélien le considère comme un ennemi, une organisation terroriste, mais il comprend surtout l’enjeu fondamental de ces élections : l’exécutif qui sortira des urnes pourra être encore plus légitime, représentant au plus près la diversité palestinienne. On sait fort bien que lorsque des mouvements de l’islam politique sont intégrés à la prise de décision, ils se banalisent. Ce qui ne peut que renforcer la démocratie palestinienne. Et change la donne d’une reprise de dialogue entre l’Autorité palestinienne et Israël, qui, si elle a lieu, se fera sous l’égide de la communauté internationale, puisque, avec l’abandon de la feuille de route, l’État hébreu a adopté une ligne de conduite unilatérale, imposant ses conditions...

3.La communauté internationale adopte une attitude ambiguë. D’un côté, l’Union européenne envisage de réduire ses aides si le Hamas venait à être élu. De l’autre, la Banque mondiale a décidé de ne pas allouer les fonds prévus à l’Autorité palestinienne, pour le mois de décembre, mettant alors en difficulté Mahmoud Abbas.
C’est une logique infernale, aux conséquences potentielles importantes, outre le renforcement du Hamas. Une étape supplémentaire est franchie dans la déstructuration de la société palestinienne, qui vit sous perfusion internationale. Bloquer les fonds de l’Autorité palestinienne en fonction des résultats d’élections démocratiques est non seulement condamnable sur un plan éthique (voilà qui revient à priver de leurs revenus des dizaines de milliers de familles), mais aussi contre-productif, si l’on considère les objectifs politiques poursuivis par la communauté internationale. Il y a cependant une logique : vouloir façonner la société palestinienne sur le modèle du Grand Moyen-Orient à la Bush. Et, pourtant, quand des élections ont lieu dans cette région, et qu’elles tendent à être démocratique, les islamistes, dont le Hamas, progressent. Ces mouvements représentent de plus en plus l’aspiration à un changement politique...

Blogalement votre !

Dr Guy

on Jan 28, 2006

At least I hope we don't, though Jimmy Carter seems to be able to shake hands with anyone...

At least he is good at something! He sucked as a president.

Dr Guy

on Jan 28, 2006

it occurs to me 18th century european monarchs prolly considered the revolting colonists just as loathsome and dangerous.

We can only hope!

drmiler

on Jan 28, 2006

Hamas already stated in their revised manifesto that Israel has a right to exist. Taking that into account, we can be certain that there will be other changes in their outlook.
The ball is now in Israel's court, so to speak, to make changes in their outlook, giving the Palestinian State the right to exist as well.
There will be peace and there will be cooperation, neither side has any other choice.

I guess we'll have to wait and see won't we?

drmiler

on Jan 28, 2006

This shows that the Bush idea that all we need is a democratic vote in the Middle East is not true. He got a democratic vote and 60% of the delegates were chosen that are from a group that support terrorism. How do you say we need the people to choose and then be unable to deal with the leaders that were selected in this democratic vote! Iraq may be another example where the government that results from a democratic vote is like the government in Iran.

Hey klink....do you even know how to stay on topic? And in doing so staying off GW's back? What he has done in the Middle East has NOTHING to do with this.

COL Gene

on Jan 28, 2006

drmiler
My post has EVERYTHING to do with the policy we are following. Bush supported the vote in Palestine just like he supported the vote in Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon. In all FOUR cases the vote gave power to our enemies. You are to dumb to understand the approach Bush is using with the Islamic world IS NOT WORKING! That gives you and Bush something in common!

drmiler

on Jan 28, 2006

Yes your post does. However that is NOT on topic is it? The topic at hand is NOT about US policy. The topic is about what happens after Hamas takes over. Ignorant putz!

bakerstreet

on Jan 28, 2006

mar'ouki: I don't understand why you and others seem to think that because a person believes in Democracy, that we have to swallow whoever is voted into office, no matter how unsavory. It simply shifts the blame from dictators to the people. If they are willing to accept a terrorist organization as leadership, then they must be a lot more confortable with terrorism than Liberals here in America claim they are.

I understand that Hamas has a "political wing". So did the IRA, and I consider them both terrorist organizations and I consider dealing with either of them a mistake. Just because a man keeps a gun under his coat doesn't mean he isn't threatening you with it. Setting up a political "side" is just giving the monster a human face. In the end, they'll still have that gun hidden behind their back while they are negotiating.

As has been said, as a "government" party, now we will just be able to assume that they speak for the Palestinian people. Instead of police actions to stem terrorism, Israel and those concerned can just declare war.

Dr Guy

on Jan 28, 2006

As has been said, as a "government" party, now we will just be able to assume that they speak for the Palestinian people. Instead of police actions to stem terrorism, Israel and those concerned can just declare war.

Yes. But hopefully the burden of leadership will temper them. Will it happen? I do not know. We can hope, but we must prepare for the worst. To do any other is foolhardy.

Tova7

on Jan 28, 2006

I think Hamas will get a nuke and fire it at Israel.

After the UN tells them fifty times that they shouldn't do it.

Leauki if you have any friends in Israel who need a place to stay.....my door is open.

Leauki

on Jan 28, 2006

I think Hamas will get a nuke and fire it at Israel.

I can imagine that Iran would do such a thing, but not locals. Hamas think that Palestine is holy land. They would not destroy it. They have too much faith in their ability to get rid of the Jews and liberate the land for Islam.

After the UN tells them fifty times that they shouldn't do it.

The end of Israel would be Israel's best public relations success ever. Israel avoided such success in the past.

Leauki if you have any friends in Israel who need a place to stay.....my door is open.

I have friends in Israel. But I think they have faith.

Hamas aren't exactly worse than Fateh. They are just Islamist while Fateh was nationalist. Jews are neither Muslims nor Arabs and remain enemies of both (in the eyes of the extremists). But Christian Arabs might have a problem soon. A bigger problem than in the past, that is.

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