Hamas government

[winterbadger]

Comrades,

I'd be interested in your opinions. My own feelings are incredibly mixed. I think it's the sovereign democratic right of a people to elect whatever damnfool government they choose to, and their painful obligation to live with whoever they choose. Of course, the Palestinian people have chosen to elect a government that is made up of terrorists who refuse to recognize the right of Israel to exist, which is an unacceptable position from my point of view. On the other hand, my country has twice chosen to elect someone who is little better than a terrorist, who mouths platitudes about democracy but who refuses to accept as legitimate any government he doesn't like; and Israel has done the same innumerable times.

Apart from sensible people from all countries getting together to settle the outstandign issues like rational people, which is clearly not an acceptable idea to anyone, what do we do next? I admit I am baffled.

Comments

[sioneva.livejournal.com]

We can't preach democracy on one hand and then, with the other, try to deny it. We can't tell the Palestinians that they don't have the right to elect a Hamas government. BUT, we do have the right to encourage our own democratically-elected governments to speak out against those governments. Not to refuse to speak with them, period (what does that help?!) but to work with them to come to peaceful resolutions, etc.

It's not always the outcome we want but it's a heck of a lot better than covert operations to kill the elected leaders, etc. that end up causing even more problems in the long run.

[motherwell.livejournal.com]

First, the Palestinians need to take, and experience, responsibility for their own self-government, even if that means electing a bunch of terrorists in the short term. You want democracy, you gotta start somewhere. Hopefully, in the long term, Hamas and their supporters will get used to dealing with taxes, crime, sewers, etc. without being able to hide behind the old dodge of "let's kill everyone we don't like 'cause we're all pitiful powerless victims and our troubles are everyone's fault but ours."

Second, I'm not fond of Hamas either, but the only alternative was Fatah, and they were just as evil as Hamas, only more corrupt and less competent. They didn't even have Al Gore!

Third, I can't stand Bush either, but anyone who knows how real terrorists operate will admit that Bush is not like them -- he's worse than useless for totally different reasons.