Although most of the world advocates “free and fair elections”, whenever the results alter the status quo, the reaction is likely to be fear of the unknown.
While there is ample reason for concern over the results of the Palestinian Elections, there is also the necessity to deal with “the world as it is” and seek practical, peaceful solutions in every situation.
We hope this selection of articles will be of interest to our readers.
Diplomatic ‘Quartet’ hails free Palestinian elections, urges all to renounce violence
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=17311&Cr=palestin&Cr1=
Hamas Wins Palestinian Elections: Questions you need answered
The stunning victory by Hamas in the Palestinian election has raised many questions. Jewish Voice for Peace offers some answers to help our members and supporters make sense of these momentous developments.
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_292.shtml
Hamas’ victory is not a call for militancy
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/review/article_full_story.asp?service_ID=10619
Hamas, Fatah gunmen battle over election results
Three people were wounded in the gun battle near the southern city of Khan Younis, the first between the rival movements since Wednesday's vote, witnesses said. The violence erupted, they said, after Hamas militants were angered by a sermon by a Fatah-appointed Muslim preacher during Friday prayers.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-01-27T121253Z_01_L20602990_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml
Hamas Election Victory: A Vote for Clarity
Several factors explain the dramatic rise of Hamas, including disillusionment and disgust with the corruption, cynicism and lack of strategy of the Fatah faction which has dominated the Palestinian movement for decades and had arrogantly come to view itself as the natural and indisputable leader. The election result is not entirely surprising, however, and has been foreshadowed by recent events.
http://electronicIntifada.net/v2/article4425.shtml
Background question and answer - Implications of the Palestinian elections
Experts say Palestinian voters were sick of the corruption and incompetence of Fatah, which has run the PA for the decade since it was f ounded. Fatah leaders skimmed off much of the billions in foreign aid the international community has given to the PA, leaving ordinary citizens living in desperate conditions.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-6LF9JB?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
Arab League: Hamas will have to recognize Israel
Moussa added that the diplomatic process in the Middle East must follow the Beirut guidelines, which include a full Israeli withdrawal from the territories according to UN resolutions 242 and 338. The initiative, approved by the Arab League in 2002 was rejected by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/675205.html
Hamas Urges Dialogue, Continued Aid
The EU said it is ready to continue aid to the Palestinians but wants to see a Hamas-led government commit itself to peace with Israel.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=013006113511
Israel Must Talk to Hamas
by Patrick Seale
Although last week’s Palestinian elections were widely recognised as a model of democracy -- even though conducted in the difficult circumstances of an Israeli military occupation -- the immediate Western and Israeli reaction to the spectacular victory of Hamas has been one of rejection.
http://www.agenceglobal.com/Article.asp?Id=793
Despite enmity, Israel, Hamas expected to talk
But in the crowded confines that Israel and the Palestinian territories occupy, confrontation is likely to take a back seat to the demands of day-to-day concerns, analysts say. And some say the inevitable interaction between the two sides -- which once seemed impossible -- may push Hamas and Israel toward broader cooperation.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/01/28/MNG1KGV3O81.DTL
US Must Not Stop Aid to Palestinians
The Arab American Institute (AAI) urges the Bush Administration to reject growing pressure to suspend USAID funds to the Palestinians. Despite concern with the outcome, of the recent Palestinian Legislative elections, the Institute says “This is not the time to walk away from the Palestinian people.”
http://www.aaiusa.org/press/2006/release01-30-06.htm
Clinton urges 'practical' response to Hamas win
Former US president Bill Clinton has called for a "practical" international response to the militant Hamas group's stunning victory in Palestinian elections. Referring again to Hamas, he said "they may wind up like the IRA and Sinn Fein," its political wing.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060128/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestinianpoliticshamasclinton_060128163105
RICE: COUNTRIES SHOULD CUT OFF AID FOR HAMAS…
The United States wants other nations to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said ahead of an international strategy session on Mideast peace prospects.
Rice ruled out any U.S. financial assistance to a Hamas government.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/30/rice-countries-should-cu_n_14717.html
The problem with democracy
And now, horror of horrors, the Palestinians have elected the wrong party to power
By Robert Fisk
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11694.htm
A six per cent democracy
Yesterday just over 6% of the Palestinian electorate in occupied East Jerusalem were granted the opportunity to vote in their city in the second Palestinian parliamentary elections - a total of 6,300 out of a population of nearly a quarter of a million (including children). Yet even the lucky 6,300 - the number permit ted by Israel to vote is entirely arbitrary - faced a campaign of intimidation to discourage voting.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,,1694815,00.html
Analysis: Hamas history tied to Israel
Israel "aided Hamas directly -- the Israelis wanted to use it as a counterbalance to the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization)," said Tony Cordesman, Middle East analyst for the Center for Strategic Studies. Israel's support for Hamas "was a direct attempt to divide and dilute support for a strong, secular PLO by using a competing religious alternative," said a former senior CIA official.
http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=18062002-051845-8272r
Introducing Hamas - the new Likud
In 1977, the Likud of Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir was derided abroad - and by the left at home - as a group led by terror warlords, a movement with roots in armed wings that had engaged in bombings and cold-blooded shootings.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=675451&contrassID=2
While there is ample reason for concern over the results of the Palestinian Elections, there is also the necessity to deal with “the world as it is” and seek practical, peaceful solutions in every situation.
We hope this selection of articles will be of interest to our readers.
Diplomatic ‘Quartet’ hails free Palestinian elections, urges all to renounce violence
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=17311&Cr=palestin&Cr1=
Hamas Wins Palestinian Elections: Questions you need answered
The stunning victory by Hamas in the Palestinian election has raised many questions. Jewish Voice for Peace offers some answers to help our members and supporters make sense of these momentous developments.
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_292.shtml
Hamas’ victory is not a call for militancy
http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/review/article_full_story.asp?service_ID=10619
Hamas, Fatah gunmen battle over election results
Three people were wounded in the gun battle near the southern city of Khan Younis, the first between the rival movements since Wednesday's vote, witnesses said. The violence erupted, they said, after Hamas militants were angered by a sermon by a Fatah-appointed Muslim preacher during Friday prayers.
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=newsOne&storyID=2006-01-27T121253Z_01_L20602990_RTRUKOC_0_US-MIDEAST.xml
Hamas Election Victory: A Vote for Clarity
Several factors explain the dramatic rise of Hamas, including disillusionment and disgust with the corruption, cynicism and lack of strategy of the Fatah faction which has dominated the Palestinian movement for decades and had arrogantly come to view itself as the natural and indisputable leader. The election result is not entirely surprising, however, and has been foreshadowed by recent events.
http://electronicIntifada.net/v2/article4425.shtml
Background question and answer - Implications of the Palestinian elections
Experts say Palestinian voters were sick of the corruption and incompetence of Fatah, which has run the PA for the decade since it was f ounded. Fatah leaders skimmed off much of the billions in foreign aid the international community has given to the PA, leaving ordinary citizens living in desperate conditions.
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-6LF9JB?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR
Arab League: Hamas will have to recognize Israel
Moussa added that the diplomatic process in the Middle East must follow the Beirut guidelines, which include a full Israeli withdrawal from the territories according to UN resolutions 242 and 338. The initiative, approved by the Arab League in 2002 was rejected by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/675205.html
Hamas Urges Dialogue, Continued Aid
The EU said it is ready to continue aid to the Palestinians but wants to see a Hamas-led government commit itself to peace with Israel.
http://www.palestinechronicle.com/story.php?sid=013006113511
Israel Must Talk to Hamas
by Patrick Seale
Although last week’s Palestinian elections were widely recognised as a model of democracy -- even though conducted in the difficult circumstances of an Israeli military occupation -- the immediate Western and Israeli reaction to the spectacular victory of Hamas has been one of rejection.
http://www.agenceglobal.com/Article.asp?Id=793
Despite enmity, Israel, Hamas expected to talk
But in the crowded confines that Israel and the Palestinian territories occupy, confrontation is likely to take a back seat to the demands of day-to-day concerns, analysts say. And some say the inevitable interaction between the two sides -- which once seemed impossible -- may push Hamas and Israel toward broader cooperation.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/01/28/MNG1KGV3O81.DTL
US Must Not Stop Aid to Palestinians
The Arab American Institute (AAI) urges the Bush Administration to reject growing pressure to suspend USAID funds to the Palestinians. Despite concern with the outcome, of the recent Palestinian Legislative elections, the Institute says “This is not the time to walk away from the Palestinian people.”
http://www.aaiusa.org/press/2006/release01-30-06.htm
Clinton urges 'practical' response to Hamas win
Former US president Bill Clinton has called for a "practical" international response to the militant Hamas group's stunning victory in Palestinian elections. Referring again to Hamas, he said "they may wind up like the IRA and Sinn Fein," its political wing.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060128/wl_mideast_afp/mideastpalestinianpoliticshamasclinton_060128163105
RICE: COUNTRIES SHOULD CUT OFF AID FOR HAMAS…
The United States wants other nations to cut off aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said ahead of an international strategy session on Mideast peace prospects.
Rice ruled out any U.S. financial assistance to a Hamas government.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/01/30/rice-countries-should-cu_n_14717.html
The problem with democracy
And now, horror of horrors, the Palestinians have elected the wrong party to power
By Robert Fisk
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article11694.htm
A six per cent democracy
Yesterday just over 6% of the Palestinian electorate in occupied East Jerusalem were granted the opportunity to vote in their city in the second Palestinian parliamentary elections - a total of 6,300 out of a population of nearly a quarter of a million (including children). Yet even the lucky 6,300 - the number permit ted by Israel to vote is entirely arbitrary - faced a campaign of intimidation to discourage voting.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/comment/0,,1694815,00.html
Analysis: Hamas history tied to Israel
Israel "aided Hamas directly -- the Israelis wanted to use it as a counterbalance to the PLO (Palestinian Liberation Organization)," said Tony Cordesman, Middle East analyst for the Center for Strategic Studies. Israel's support for Hamas "was a direct attempt to divide and dilute support for a strong, secular PLO by using a competing religious alternative," said a former senior CIA official.
http://www.upi.com/inc/view.php?StoryID=18062002-051845-8272r
Introducing Hamas - the new Likud
In 1977, the Likud of Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir was derided abroad - and by the left at home - as a group led by terror warlords, a movement with roots in armed wings that had engaged in bombings and cold-blooded shootings.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=675451&contrassID=2