Reflections on Palestinian Elections

This is a very exciting time for Palestine. For once Palestinians
have spoken and the world is taking notice. It seems every political
commentator has an opinion, usually negative, about the new
democratically elected Palestinian government swept by Hamas. What
is routinely omitted from the dialogue is Palestinian history, with
a proud legacy of democracy and secularism. Yet over the years as
Palestinians have watched, suffered and protested the ongoing
illegal theft of their land as the noose continues to grow tighter;
and their calls fall on deaf ears. If one were to ask any
Palestinian on the street their feelings about the Hamas victory,
perhaps the only thing people agree on is the pride felt by the
refreshing candor of the new participants to the electoral process.
The way in which Hamas leaders speak to the media about the issues
that matter to everyday Palestinians, is like a breath of fresh air
to us all.

Hardly anyone should be surprised by the official reaction of the US
and Israel, for Hamas to recognize Israel's right to exist, abandon
violence and accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements, or risk
financial isolation and eventual collapse. Another remaining
constant is the double standards that continue to drive US and
Israeli policy. Of course, the powers continue to ignore Hamas
leaders who for years have stated "if Israel recognizes our rights
and pledges to withdraw from all occupied lands, Hamas, and the
Palestinian people together with it, will decide to halt armed
resistance,"... "Since no one is abiding by the dispositions of the
roadmap, the Palestinians also feel it is not expedient to adhere to
it," recently said Hamas spokesperson Mushi al-Masri Meshaal. After
years of stale negotiations, over a year long cease-fire - that went
virtually unacknowledged, Hamas has seen that such stalls in
violence, is not the key to unlock the door to their future state.
The resistance group has now decided to challenge the global
political arena, by using their strategic resources to play the
game.

My favorite analysis, was the one found in the Japan Times
online titled 'Is the onus only on Palestinians?' by Terry
Greenberg. She eloquently states, "To be effective, Hamas must
change," repeated the refrain from the West that Hamas must abandon
war and accept Israel's right to exist. How do you accept the
existence of a state that cannot define its own "existence"? How do
you ask people who are under attack to give up self-defense? The
newly elected Palestinian government is being told to do exactly
these things…How can some claim to promote and support democracy in
the Middle East, and then punish Palestinian voters for their choice?

If such absurd demands and claims are the order of the day, perhaps
they should be applied to Israel as well. Let us demand that Israel
clearly and unequivocally define its own "existence" by declaring
what its borders are, rather than continue the current ambiguity and
settlement-building in occupied lands. Also, let us demand that
Israel "abandon war" and give up its right to self-defense. And
should Israeli voters, in their upcoming elections, select a
government that does not agree to the above demands, let us punish
these voters for their choice." Would the Jewish state, or any
people for that matter, ever consider the possibility of giving up
the right to their own self-defense? To show a drop of good will why
doesn't Israel start by declaring their borders, which they have
never officially recognized.

Now the common question being asked by everyone is, what is going to
happen next. There are two main options: the powers can continue to
apply `absurd demands' and patronizing Palestinians who over the
years have lost, sacrificed and learned so much. Or the US and
Israel can start anew by delivering a universal standard of
equality, human rights and International Law. Alternatively we must
be prepared, and held responsible, for whatever violence will
inevitably follow. If the US and Israel decide to pull the economic
aid from the PA the money will come from alternative sources which
will only act to polarize and further isolate Palestinians. It is
being said the Third Intifada is upon us. Let us all learn from the
past and understand that Palestinians will never stop resisting, by
all means, until their basic human rights are realized, nor should
they. Let us accept Hamas as an equal player in the game of
International politics - far from equal - the stage is set a step
closer to a more even, playing field.

………………………………………

"Hamas is not willing to pursue a humiliating peace and is more
interested in being accepted by the Palestinians than by the US or
anyone else. Well, let the Palestinians dream of the end of Israel
and let the Israelis dream of Eretz Yisrael from the Nile to the
Euphrates, but let's negotiate an end to the violence."
Islamic scholar and expert Azzam Tamimi