Hamas victory?

[fuzzis]

Rice: major powers tell Hamas end violence
Thu Jan 26, 2006 7:08 PM ET173

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said major mediating powers on Thursday agreed Hamas should renounce violence after the militant group's shock victory in a Palestinian parliamentary election.

"We reaffirmed the view that ... you can't have one foot in terror and the other in politics," Rice told Reuters in an interview after senior officials from the so-called Quartet -- Russia, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States -- spoke by telephone.

Rice, who ruled out giving U.S. aid to Hamas, also said she reassured Israel -- in a separate call to her counterpart -- that the international community would demand the militant group recognize the Jewish state.

And in a coordinated international response to pressure Hamas, which has launched suicide bombings against Israel, the Quartet also issued a statement putting demands on the group now that it has won power.

"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," the statement said.

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What does this do to our policies in the middle-east? And what do we do about the spread of democracy when it doesn't bring the results we want?

fuzzis

[Buggy]

I dunno how much it will really change things. Fatah wasn't exactly a beacon of peace and love either.

[fuzzis]

That's true...but hardliners in Palestine brings back hardliners in Israel?

:smt102

and add to that the fact that Hamas and Iran are allied...

:smt102

fuzzis

[Conveyor Belt]

Can't we all just get along?

[lamarrebel]

I suspect Hamas' victory will also solidify the impending victory of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud Party, which will mean a return to harder line policies by the Israelis with regard to a peace agreement.

[wilebill]

In a way, this may make it easier for Israel to invade the Palestinian territory with all of it's military muscle. If the suicide bombings continue, then it will be under the auspices of an elected government, which would give Israel the legitimacy to declare war on that government.

This will be very interesting to see how Hamas handles this situation - "What happens when terrorists gain control of a country" (if you want to call Palestine a country).

[IGID]

I hate to see Isreal with a new set of problems. I was hoping the U.S. would supply them with the tomahawk missiles and convince them to send them to Iran by express mail.

[wilebill]

I hate to see Isreal with a new set of problems. I was hoping the U.S. would supply them with the tomahawk missiles and convince them to send them to Iran by express mail.

I have a sneaky suspicion that Israel either has Tomahawks, or something just as good or better. And I'm sure that they already have maps of Iran with big red X's on it.

Israel already took out one or more nuke plants in Iran several years ago. I doubt seriously they'll let them build any others.

[lamarrebel]

I remember seeing all the Palestinians in Ramallah out celebrating the attacks against us on 9/11.....so I wouldn't lose any sleep if Netanyahu responded to a new round of suicide attacks with a 'can of whoop a$$' either. These people only seem to understand overwhelming military force, and Israel, like any other nation, has the right to defend itself.

[Conveyor Belt]

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The leader of Hamas suggested Saturday that the Islamic group could create a Palestinian army that would include its militant wing - responsible for scores of deadly attacks on Israelis - in the aftermath of its crushing victory in parliamentary elections.

Israeli officials condemned the plan, demanding that Hamas renounce violence. Palestinian security officers, including loyalists from the defeated Fatah Party, said they would never submit to Hamas control.

"Hamas has no power to meddle with the security forces," said Jibril Rajoub, a Palestinian strongman. The Hamas chief, Khaled Mashaal, reiterated that Hamas would not recognize Israel and indicated attacks on Israeli civilians would continue as long as Israel continued to target Palestinian civilians. "As long as we are under occupation then resistance is our right," he said.
I see no good coming from this... I looks like another full scale war is brewing, as opposed to the little suicide hits. Although all out war would be more costly in casualties, at least the issue would be decided for a few years before. The only two solutions are 1) Mindset changes on both sides and peace ensues or 2) Complete annihilation of one party thus ensuring peace.

[wilebill]

An all-out war between Israel and the Palestinians wouldn't last too long.

[Conveyor Belt]

I know... but at least it'd be over with... at least for a few months or so...