http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4534224.stm
Palestinian militant group Hamas has won a sweeping victory in municipal elections in the West Bank.
The Palestinian electoral commission said that in the biggest city, Nablus, Hamas took 73% of the vote, while the mainstream Fatah organisation took 13%.
Nablus has traditionally been seen as a Fatah stronghold, but the party appears to have been damaged by current splits.
On Wednesday, Marwan Barghouti split from Fatah to form a rival faction for elections in late January.
Barghouti is serving five life terms in an Israeli prison for ordering militant attacks.
Israeli warnings
Hamas' charter commits it to the destruction of Israel, and the group has been responsible for most of the suicide attacks inside Israel.
Israeli officials have warned that the peace process will end if the group becomes the dominant Palestinian political party.
Late on Thursday Israel launched another round of missile strikes on targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into Israel.
The Israeli army said its missile strike was aimed at roads leading to areas from which militants fire rockets. Palestinian medical sources say that two people were injured.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4534224.stm
Originally posted by ivanhoeDoes it suprise you that Hamas won? Basically, the Israelis said "If you elect these guys we are gonna kick your ass!" In most cases when someone tells someone else to do something or else, that person is going to do exactly what you don't want them to do. Especially when the person telling you what to do has been killing your people for 50 years.
Late on Thursday Israel launched another round of missile strikes on targets in Gaza and Palestinian militants fired Qassam rockets into Israel.
The Israeli army said its missile strike was aimed at roads leading to areas from which militants fire rockets. Palestinian medical sources say that two people were injured.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FCB63EEA-DDF7-4E6D-989D-AC038D2B7A7C.htm
The European Union has joined the United States in threats to withhold aid if Hamas participates in a Palestinian government.
Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, has said tens of millions of dollars of aid to the Palestinian Authority could be halted if the Islamist group wins elections next month and fails to renounce violence.
Hamas has swept municipal elections in several West Bank cities last week, reflecting Palestinian dissatisfaction with the ruling Fatah party.
The strong showing has raised the possibility that Hamas could win the Palestinian parliamentary elections on 25 January.
Solana said that an administration including a party which failed to clearly reject violence and recognise Israel's right to exist could not continue to receive EU funding.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FCB63EEA-DDF7-4E6D-989D-AC038D2B7A7C.htm
Originally posted by ivanhoeOkay, but are you surprised by the results? It does stink of nation building when you tell a people who they can and who they cannot elect to represent them. Didn't they do the same when the PLO represented them. It took around ten years before Arafat was recognized as the leader of Palestine.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FCB63EEA-DDF7-4E6D-989D-AC038D2B7A7C.htm
The European Union has joined the United States in threats to withhold aid if Hamas participates in a Palestinian government.
Javier Solana, the EU foreign policy chief, has said tens of millions of dollars of aid to the Palestinian Authority could be halted if the ...[text shortened]... e EU funding.
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/FCB63EEA-DDF7-4E6D-989D-AC038D2B7A7C.htm
We could equate this to George Washington being elected president. The military branch of rebel group becoming leader of a nation. Hmmm.... this does smack of hypocrisy.
Originally posted by CliffLandinThere are two slight problems though. In its charter Hamas calls for Israel's destruction, not very democratic, and Hamas is considered to be a terrorist organisation which has attacked Israel many times.
Okay, but are you surprised by the results? It does stink of nation building when you tell a people who they can and who they cannot elect to represent them. Didn't they do the same when the PLO represented them. It took around ten years before Arafat was recognized as the leader of Palestine.
We could equate this to George Washington being elected ...[text shortened]... litary branch of rebel group becoming leader of a nation. Hmmm.... this does smack of hypocrisy.
Originally posted by ivanhoeThe PLO was and is concidered to be a terrorist organization, or does you memory only extend a couple of years. And the PLO attacked Israel more than Hamas has. No one told Israel who they could elect. I know that you don't like no1maruader, but in your other proIsrael/antiPalestine thread he pointed out that Sharon was and is the leader of a terrorist organization, but you have no problem with him being the leader of a nation and dictating who can or cannot be elected the leader of another nation.
There are two slight problems though. In its charter Hamas calls for Israel's destruction, not very democratic, and Hamas is considered to be a terrorist organisation which has attacked Israel many times.
Originally posted by CliffLandinIf Hamas wil be elected in parliament and becomes part of the Palestine Authority, the peace process will have to start all over again ..... and, looking at the situation in Iran, this time under even more unfavorable circumstances.
The PLO was and is concidered to be a terrorist organization, or does you memory only extend a couple of years. And the PLO attacked Israel more than Hamas has. No one told Israel who they could elect. I know that you don't like no1maruader, but in your other proIsrael/antiPalestine thread he pointed out that Sharon was and is the leader of a terrorist ...[text shortened]... the leader of a nation and dictating who can or cannot be elected the leader of another nation.
CliffL: " I know that you don't like no1maruader, ..."
Oh well, when he's not insulting degrading and bullying people he's all right. 😉
CliffL: "but you have no problem with him being the leader of a nation and dictating who can or cannot be elected the leader of another nation."
I don't remember saying this. In fact I never stated anything of the kind. Please do not ascribe stances to me which I do not take.
Originally posted by CliffLandinwhere do I state Hamas doesn't have the right to lead the country after they have been elected ?
So you are now saying that Hamas has every right to lead Palestine. I think no1's problem with you is that you post statements as if you believe them and then you change your stance.
Originally posted by CliffLandinIvanhoe: "No, we also have to deal with the leaders elected by the Israeli voters, same as we have to accept the democratically and freely chosen Palestinian leaders."
The problem is that you neither state that they should nor do you state that they shouldn't. You cut and paste articles designed to incite arguement, but don't say where you stand. You are a chameleon blowing with the wind of public opinion.
I think this is a perfectly clear stance. Crystalclear.