http://apnews.excite.com/article/20060126/D8FCH1C81.html

so, Hamas won.. what do you think about it?

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Democracy at work.

You have to wonder if they will be encouraging fundamentalist religious movements to influence internal and external policy, including what is taught in schools and other social issues; whether they will be appointing judges that also follow a certain mindset and attempt to solidfy their standing in the government by scaring and intimidating the people and opposition forces with scare tactics about their external enemies . . .

Are you refering to here in the USof A or over there.

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The politics of fear -- in this case, with pretty good cause. How sad...

Don't tell me... Let me guess.

This is all W's fault for invading Iraq right?

no.. but it probably is shrub's fault for trying to back the corrupted Fatah..

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Pretty odd notion, but if you say so...

for Palestinians in Palestine/middle east..

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I'm sure we will have a much more productive working realtionship with the newly elected leaders.

This does kind of turn W's premise,that free peoples engaged in free elections won't choose terrorism, on it's head.

It's definitely good for Palestinian happiness, because it seems like the elections were free & fair and that's what matters. If they want to have fundamentalist Islam in their constitution, so be it, it's their choice. Whether the results are good for the rest of the world, it's hard to tell at this time, but in any case the world needs to respect the results. By entering politics Hamas may transform itself from a mostly militant group to a political force that will bring the people's voice into the government and any international treaty signed with such government will be all the more legitimate. On the other hand Hamas may do something stupid and totally destroy the peace process. We'll see.

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Hamas is not one dimensional man.. they do good things for their people.. we just concentrate on their armed branch.

we'll still have to deal with Fatah in a small way since Abbas is the prez.. they are going to have some major inside shuffling for a while.. he willl have to run everything by Hamas basically.. i will be surprised if Hamas denounces violence and recognizes Israel.. we'll see; this should be very interesting..

as to the other comment: shrub might have just pushed them in that direction by trying to meddle.. things weren't really looking too good for Fatah from the start..

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Potentially horrible in the short-term.

But if Hamas can restrain itself and become a viable government then in the long term this is the best possible outcome for the middleast.

Only Hamas and only Netanyahu can sign a peace treaty that will have many of the concessions that both sides demand of each other. Weaker or more accommodationist gov on eitehr side would prevent it.

It all depends on whether Hamas can grow-up.

I voted positive.

B

I agree 100% with Bots view here.
I would add:
Remember- while we call them a terrorist group- they are fighting for what they believe is their land. The American Indians were terrorists also against white settlers if you believe the current definition. England invaded Ireland and enslaved, murdered and starved the Irish and while stealing Irish land- and now the fight to regain the land is called terrorism.

I voted for the only correct answer: I don't know.

On the one hand, Hamas isn't likely to announce that they think Isreal has a right to exist, so the Isrealis may decide not to play ball with them. But if Hamas continues to uphold the cease-fire, I hope they will at least try to talk with each other.

I think Olmert (sp?) is likely to succeed Sharon; it doesn't seem like the Isreali public thinks too much of BB or the Labor guy at this point. Also, sudden deaths have a way of bolstering public opinion for the dead person's party.

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Ralph

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i see many votes for no. so whay do you guys think Hamas is bad for Palestine..

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