The Palestinian people declared war on Israel.
They formally initiated a state of war by electing Hamas candidates to a majority of parliamentary seats in the Palestinian territories, thus kicking Fatah out of power. Not only does the Hamas charter pledge the destruction of Israel, but Hamas officials said there will be no change there. Nor will Hamas disarm, another Hamas leader told the Associated Press.
What could be plainer?
Unless Hamas undergoes a fundamental change of philosophy, any semblance of a peace process is over and the Palestinian people can probably forget about economic progress.
The election of Hamas fails to represent any fundamental changes; there never was a credible peace process. The Palestinians have committed more than a half-dozen acts of war against Israel since leaders of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to a truce nearly a year ago.
It is no surprise that some reporters, politicians and other observers were shocked by the election results. They often get it wrong on Middle East developments. It is clear that a large segment of the Arab world still opposes Israel's very existence and is mired in a tribalistic system that would prevent an inclusive democracy. This is not to broad-brush the attitudes of all Arab individuals. No doubt ordinary Palestinians were fed up with the corruption of the Fatah party, which led the Palestinian Authority first under the despotism of Yasser Arafat and then with the ineffectiveness of Mahmoud Abbas. But one must wonder how many Hamas supporters share its hostility toward Israel.
Israeli leaders have already said they will not negotiate with Hamas so long as it remains committed to destroying Israel. This course of action rises to a level of sensibility that is obvious and self-explanatory. The Palestinian government could also lose up to $1 billion yearly in revenues from the United States, Israel and European nations because of Hamas' stance on Israel, but they could be compensated by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Islamic charities, according to news reports.
The chances of Hamas ever becoming a peace partner are negligible. News reports recount that Hamas spawned nearly 60 fatal bombings during the past five years. One woman was elected on the strength of the death of three of her sons, who were killed in attacks on Israelis. After the election, she said she will sacrifice her remaining sons if it is necessary.
Hamas also won four of the six district seats which represent East Jerusalem, and that means they have many supporters in what is now part of Israel proper.
If Hamas consolidates control, there is reason to fear that they will launch attacks from Gaza into Israel and on settlements in the West Bank. Hamas' record of violence underscores the distrust it must overcome even if it overhauls its plans and policies for friendlier relations with Israel. Hamas leaders may act one way on a diplomatic level, but they could simultaneously be behind acts of violence against Israel.
Meanwhile, Hamas appears to be headed for a civil war with Fatah supporters who want no part of Hamas.
The election outcome should be no surprise to anyone who follows events in the Middle East the last five years, even on a casual basis. The Palestinians rejected an offer that would have given them most of what they are now demanding; they launched a war which left 1,000 Israelis and 2,500 of their own dead; and since last February's truce, Israelis were murdered in six bombings and a drive-by shooting.
Abbas, the president of the Authority, may well have been perfectly sincere in pursuing a peace settlement with Israel, but, for whatever reason, he failed to control terrorism in his midst.
Until last month, it was impossible to quantify how many Palestinians sought Israel's destruction, but on January 25, an overwhelming majority of Palestinians voted for a force that has made it crystal clear that Israel must be demolished.
Now that's a declaration of war.
They formally initiated a state of war by electing Hamas candidates to a majority of parliamentary seats in the Palestinian territories, thus kicking Fatah out of power. Not only does the Hamas charter pledge the destruction of Israel, but Hamas officials said there will be no change there. Nor will Hamas disarm, another Hamas leader told the Associated Press.
What could be plainer?
Unless Hamas undergoes a fundamental change of philosophy, any semblance of a peace process is over and the Palestinian people can probably forget about economic progress.
The election of Hamas fails to represent any fundamental changes; there never was a credible peace process. The Palestinians have committed more than a half-dozen acts of war against Israel since leaders of both Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed to a truce nearly a year ago.
It is no surprise that some reporters, politicians and other observers were shocked by the election results. They often get it wrong on Middle East developments. It is clear that a large segment of the Arab world still opposes Israel's very existence and is mired in a tribalistic system that would prevent an inclusive democracy. This is not to broad-brush the attitudes of all Arab individuals. No doubt ordinary Palestinians were fed up with the corruption of the Fatah party, which led the Palestinian Authority first under the despotism of Yasser Arafat and then with the ineffectiveness of Mahmoud Abbas. But one must wonder how many Hamas supporters share its hostility toward Israel.
Israeli leaders have already said they will not negotiate with Hamas so long as it remains committed to destroying Israel. This course of action rises to a level of sensibility that is obvious and self-explanatory. The Palestinian government could also lose up to $1 billion yearly in revenues from the United States, Israel and European nations because of Hamas' stance on Israel, but they could be compensated by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Islamic charities, according to news reports.
The chances of Hamas ever becoming a peace partner are negligible. News reports recount that Hamas spawned nearly 60 fatal bombings during the past five years. One woman was elected on the strength of the death of three of her sons, who were killed in attacks on Israelis. After the election, she said she will sacrifice her remaining sons if it is necessary.
Hamas also won four of the six district seats which represent East Jerusalem, and that means they have many supporters in what is now part of Israel proper.
If Hamas consolidates control, there is reason to fear that they will launch attacks from Gaza into Israel and on settlements in the West Bank. Hamas' record of violence underscores the distrust it must overcome even if it overhauls its plans and policies for friendlier relations with Israel. Hamas leaders may act one way on a diplomatic level, but they could simultaneously be behind acts of violence against Israel.
Meanwhile, Hamas appears to be headed for a civil war with Fatah supporters who want no part of Hamas.
The election outcome should be no surprise to anyone who follows events in the Middle East the last five years, even on a casual basis. The Palestinians rejected an offer that would have given them most of what they are now demanding; they launched a war which left 1,000 Israelis and 2,500 of their own dead; and since last February's truce, Israelis were murdered in six bombings and a drive-by shooting.
Abbas, the president of the Authority, may well have been perfectly sincere in pursuing a peace settlement with Israel, but, for whatever reason, he failed to control terrorism in his midst.
Until last month, it was impossible to quantify how many Palestinians sought Israel's destruction, but on January 25, an overwhelming majority of Palestinians voted for a force that has made it crystal clear that Israel must be demolished.
Now that's a declaration of war.