BREAKING
NEWS: MIDDLE EAST & ARAB WORLD
HAMAS VICTORY _______________________________________________________________________
FEBRUARY EDITION
HAMAS: BULLETS BULLETS- BALLOTS - BULLETS BULLETS Official Election Observers to Validate Hamas Political Power
By Dr. Joseph Lerner
Hamas participation in the Palestinian legislative election is a
debacle for Israel and for U.S. democratic hopes for this
region. The U.S. expectation that Hamas would do poorly and that if
Hamas did become part of the government the U.S. would act against
the Palestinians ; that spells disaster. What that action would be
was not specified. In the worst case, it was assumed Hamas might be
installed in a Fatah-led government . Then the U.S. would not work
with that high appointee. Would the U.S. wind up working with a non-Hamas
technician? (Pragmatism at play.) That picture has changed with the
Hamas election victory. . Tragically, NGOs which urged that Hamas
was not qualified to run, are validating Hamas by serving as
election observers. What an umpire to meticulously scrutinize every
move in the game in which a major team is not qualified to play! Of
course, these observers will validate the Hamas team by recording
their score. Hamas has made it clear its participation in the
election and even in government does not mean that it is changing
its objectives. The world mistakenly separates Social Hamas from
Military Hamas. How will the world cope with Political Hamas? Many
observers considered Hamas' decision to add a political string a
significant advance. Now Hamas is three entities inseparably joined
in a single objective: to destroy Israel. Haaretz reports (25
Jan.'06) Hamas senor leader Ismail Haniya said: "Europeans and
Americans are telling Hamas to choose between arms and parliament
... we will go for arms and parliament." Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar
said Hamas "will not change a single word of its covenant" which
calls for Israel's destruction. He continued: "Hamas will not turn
into a political party. Hamas plays in all fields". On the same day
in Haaretz political expert Danny Rubinstein, wrote on the election
"Analysis: a step forward for Palestinian democracy" concluding that
" ... a new parliament and a new government, in which Hamas and the
left participate, might ultimately advance the diplomatic
process rather than halt it". On the way to his conclusion
Rubinstein says "PA officials and Palestinian media argued... Hamas'
presence in the legislature, and perhaps even in the government did
not symbolize a retreat from the diplomatic process "
.Underestimation of Hamas political strength is widespread. for
example in Israel on January 23 2006 saying :"... after this
election there will be extremely strong commitment by Abu Mazen (Abbas)
... and the entire Palestinian Authority ... to stamp out the last
vestiges of terrorism." Concern about Hamas participation in
elections was shown in August 2002 in anticipation of the expected
2003 elections which were postponed.. That report by the
International Republican Institute and the International Foundation
For Electoral Systems recommended persons engaged in or fostering
violence not be permitted to be candidates. On January 13,2003 the
National Democratic Institute and the [President] Carter Center
issued a joint statement regarding the coming election. One
significant part which related to Hamas' participation in the
election follows: " The 2006 Palestinian Legislative Council
elections face a unique challenge in that they include the
participation of ... Hamas, that defends violence (including the
killing of civilians) as a means of achieving a political end,
refuses to give up arms or to declare a permanent ceasefire and is
committed to the destruction of ... Israel ... . Hamas' political
participation, while simultaneously advocating violence, undermines
a fundamental principle of democratic elections." In its "Open
Letter to the Palestinian Electoral Commission" the European
Parliament set out its position regarding Hamas participation inn
the election. It begins with a reference to the September 12, 2003
Council of European Union decision to include Hamas in the EU list
of terrorist organizations. followed by reference to the Quartet's
September 22, 2005 statement that "those who want to take part in
the political process should refrain from being members of armed
groups or from taking part in armed struggle" It then referred to
the Quartet's December 28,,2005 statement stressing "a future
Palestinian Authority cabinet should include no member who has not
committed to ... Israel's right to exist in peace and security and
an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism." (All underlined in
original text.)
The Open Letter then called on all candidates to sign a document in
which they committed themselves to "two states for two peoples
recognizing Israel's right to exist"; "renounce violence and refrain
from terror" and commit to disarm." It calls on all wishing to
participate in the election (especially Hamas) to show willingness
to become part of a genuinely democratic political environment by
disarming the militias and ensuring their Charter does not include
articles calling for the destruction of Israel and anti-Semitic
articles". In passing, the Open Letter recalls the warning by Javier
Sloan of the adverse impact on EU-PA relations .... "on the
participation of Hamas in the elections and the consequences it
might have ...", meaning a reduction in financial support. How all
this plays in the Arab world is demonstrated by The Jordan Times
Jan.24.'06 editorial:" Adapting to reality" Threats against the
Palestinian Authority if its government includes Hamas "sends a very
dangerous message that democracy is fine so long as parties
acceptable to the West are elected". The editorial also refers to EU
threats to cut funding if "Hamas becomes a future coalition
partner". In a typically faulty parallel the editorial equates Hamas'
situation with a hypothetical threat by the US to withhold aid to
Israel if Likud was to enter the government, The editorial
concludes: "...the West must now choose between standing behind its
democratic principles or allow short-sighted populist policies win
the day". Clearly, given its disqualifications, allowing Hamas to
run was a prime blunder, a case of faulty "intelligence" which will
feed instability and undercut US efforts to promote democracy. At
the core of the blunder is the concept that democracies don't make
war against each other. Solutions are the elixir for peace. On
election day President Bush said:" A political party to be viable,
is one that professes peace, in my judgment, in order that it will
keep the peace."
___________________________________________________________________
UN Sec'y Gen. Annan after Hamas victory: "important step towards achievement of Palestinian state"
Secretary-General says peaceful Palestinian legislative elections
important step towards achievement of Palestinian state. The
following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan: The Secretary-General telephoned
President Mahmoud Abbas to congratulate him and the Palestinian
people on the peaceful and orderly conduct of the legislative
elections. He expressed his appreciation of the work of the Central
Election Commission, which received assistance from the United
Nations for the preparatory electoral work. The Secretary-General
views these elections as an important step towards the achievement
of a Palestinian State. He looks forward to the publication of the
results of the elections over the coming days, and to discussing
them with Quartet partners.
STATEMENT ON PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS BY
MIDDLE EAST QUARTET
The following statement was issued today by the Middle East Quartet
(United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation, United States):
The Quartet consulted today on the Palestinian Legislative Council
elections. It congratulates President Abbas and the Palestinian
people on an electoral process that was free, fair and secure. The
Quartet calls on all parties to respect the results of the election
and the outcome of the Palestinian constitutional process so that it
may unfold in an atmosphere of calm and security. The Palestinian
people have voted for change, but it is the view of the Quartet that
their aspirations for peace and statehood, as articulated by
President Abbas in his statement following the closing of polls
yesterday, remain unchanged. The Quartet reiterates its view that
there is a fundamental contradiction between armed group and militia
activities and the building of a democratic State. A two-State
solution to the conflict requires all participants in the democratic
process to renounce violence and terror, accept Israel's right to
exist, and disarm, as outlined in the Road Map.
Hamas Topples Fateh: Human Rights to Face a New Challenge
As the world reels from the shock of Hamas' victory over Fateh,
human rights policy in Palestine has arrived at a pivotal juncture.
For the first time in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the
Palestinian Authority must navigate a democratic transfer of power.
Election observers from around the world were impressed by the
organization of the election, which was fair and democratic and
boasted a 77.69% voter turnout. Now, Fateh must relinquish control
of the PLC to the victors in a more difficult test of democratic
verity. Hamas has shown positive signs in conducting a smooth
transfer of power,
moderating its platform and offering to partner with Fatah in the
new government. However, on Thursday Fatah negotiator Saeb Erekat
spoke for Fatah, announcing that Fatah would not cooperate with the
new government. Also on Thursday, an exchange at the Palestinian
legislative building was the first violent clash between the two
parties. Hamas supporters tried to attach their party flag to the
building, and when Fateh supporters tried to prevent the action, the
two groups threw rocks at each other and fought in the street. On
Friday, Fateh demonstrations in Gaza escalated to violence and calls
for the expulsion of Abu Mazen from the country. The election
results and the resulting events will have two main implications for
human rights. First, Hamas' win will reveal their true commitment to
change and reform. Having been elected by virtue of the Oslo
agreements, if Hamas wants to accept its win it will also have to
accept the precepts of Oslo, namely the recognition of Israel. As
for
Fateh, which has already accepted the terms of Oslo, the indignation
of its loss will have to be tempered into a working cooperation with
its democratically elected partner. Violence and further human
rights violations by Fateh will only hasten the demise of human
rights standards in Palestine. For both parties, the Palestinian
Human Rights Monitoring Group requests their commitment to not only
Oslo, but to International Humanitarian Law as well. For Hamas, this
means making clear their intent to enforce human rights and the rule
of democracy, which handed them Wednesday's election victory. For
Fatah, this means honoring the election results and partnering with
Hamas in the new parliament. Human rights already suffers under the
Israeli Occupation, and can no longer afford to suffer under the
elected government of the Palestinian Authority. Issued by PHRMG
Public Relations Officer
President Bush
Conference on Hamas Election Victory
James S. Brady Briefing Room
Q Mr. President, is Mideast peacemaking dead with Hamas' big
election victory? And do you rule out dealing with the Palestinians
if Hamas is the majority party?
THE PRESIDENT: Peace is never dead, because people want peace. I
believe -- and that's why I articulated a two-state solution early
in my administration, so that -- as a vision for people to work
toward, a solution that recognized that democracy yields peace. And
the best hope for peace in the Middle East is two democracies living
side-by-side. So the Palestinians had an election yesterday, and the
results of which remind me about the power of democracy. You see,
when you give people the vote, you give people a chance to express
themselves at the polls -- and if they're unhappy with the status
quo, they'll let you know. That's the great thing about democracy,
it provides a look into society. And yesterday the turnout was
significant, as I understand it. And there was a peaceful process as
people went to the polls, and that's positive. But what was also
positive is, is that it's a wake-up call to the leadership.
Obviously, people were not happy with the status quo. The people are
demanding honest government. The people want services. They want to
be able to raise their children in an environment in which they can
get a decent education and they can find health care. And so the
elections should open the eyes of the old guard there in the
Palestinian territories. I like the competition of ideas. I like
people who have to go out and say, vote for me, and here's what I'm
going to do. There's something healthy about a system that does
that. And so the elections yesterday were very interesting. On the
other hand, I don't see how you can be a partner in peace if you
advocate the destruction of a country as part of your platform. And
I know you can't be a partner in peace if you have a -- if your
party has got an armed wing. The elections just took place. We will
watch very carefully about the formation of the government. But I
will continue to remind people about what I just said, that if your
platform is the destruction of Israel, it means you're not a partner
in peace. And we're interested in peace. I talked to Condi twice
this morning. She called President Abbas. She also is going to have
a conference call today about the Quartet -- with the Quartet, about
how to keep the process on the road to peace.
Q If I can follow up, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q Are you cautioning Prime Minister Abbas not to resign? And --
THE PRESIDENT: We'd like him to stay in power. I mean, we'd like to
stay in office. He is in power, we'd like him to stay in office.
Sorry to interrupt. I knew this was a two-part question, so I tried
to head it off.
Q Will this affect aid to the Palestinians? Will you be able to work
with Hamas if they're -- assuming they take on a large share of the
government?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I made it very clear that the United States
does not support political parties that want to destroy our ally,
Israel, and that people must renounce that part of their platform.
But the government hasn't formed yet. They're beginning to talk
about how to form the government. And your question on Abbas was a
good one. And our message to him was, we would hope he would stay in
office and work to move the process forward. Again, I remind people,
the elections -- democracy is -- can open up the
world's eyes to reality by listening to people. And the elections --
the election process is healthy for society, in my judgment. In
other words, it's -- one way to figure out how to address the needs
of the people is to let them express themselves at the ballot box.
And that's exactly what happened yesterday. And you'll hear a lot of
people saying, well, aren't we surprised at the outcome, or this,
that, or the other. If there is corruption, I'm not surprised that
people say, let's get rid of corruption. If government hadn't been
responsive, I'm not the least bit surprised that people said, I want
government to be responsive. And so that was an interesting day
yesterday in the -- as we're watching liberty begin to spread across
the Middle East.
Let's see here. Yes, David.
Q Mr. President, good morning. I have a different question, but I'd
like to pin you down on this point about Hamas because I don't think
you've completely answered it. Are you ruling out dealing with
a Palestinian government comprised, in part, of Hamas?
THE PRESIDENT: Dave, they don't have a government yet, so you're
asking me to speculate on what the government will look like. I have
made it very clear, however, that a political party that articulates
the destruction of Israel as part of its platform is a party with
which we will not deal.
Photo:
An Iraqi food distribution agent counts copies of the new constitution
in Baghdad, Iraq, Sunday.