Vets said to those who support Hamas, "Don't be ignorant."

As the saying goes: The best response to an ignorant person is silence. thus, all those who support Hamas will remain silent and not respond to you.

To all those who support the Hamas, I would advise you to search the Internet on information on the: -Hamas charter-.

Learn about them, their goals and their actions before giving it your blind support. Don't be ignorants. See if your values for free speech, freedom of religion, peace and racism match the Hamas ones.

Now that Hamas is physically separated from the corrupt pro-western Al-Fatah, the U.S, EU, and Israel can easily starve them to death--literally.

Reading this, a reader would only get one little hint that the US and Israel have been supporting Fatah with weapons and ammo. That hint is almost at the end where the story tells of a complaint from Fatah that they didn't get the aid from Israel they say they needed. You have to read between the lines a bit to ask why the Israelis would be giving arms and ammunition to the Palestinians in the first place.

Funny that they act like this is the death knell to the Oslo accords. They've been dead for sometime. The whole deal was always a bit phony, with Palestinians supposed to give what the Israelis wanted immediately, while everything the Palestinians wanted from the Israelis was put off to the "final status talks" at the end. And when the Palestinians tried to get there, they were told by the Isrealis that couldn't have what they wanted. No movement on return of refugees. No Palestinian capital in Jerusalem.

To me, Oslo died back then. At best, this is just putting flowers on an old grave.

And wow, those awful Palestinians actually want leaders who aren't as corrupt as Arafat's Fatah, and who are actually interested in getting a settlement for the Palestinians that gets them at least some of what they want. I don't like Hamas. I'm not very fond of fundamentalists of any stripe. But I can easily see why the Palestinians are sick of a Fatah government that basically trades away what the Palestinians want for US and Israeli support to keep them in a phony government which allows them to enrich themselves.

I guess now we'll get to see 'free elections' in a situation where the people are being starved to death by the US, the EU and Israel and told they'll continue to starve if they vote for the 'wrong' people.

This is very significant.

If it survives, the new state in Gaza is very threatening to existing Arab governments, really more so than to Israel. Here it is, next door to Egypt, where advocates of such a state are repressed.

It is governing a crowded, impoverished strip of land. It will be an example for the poor and politically repressed elements in many countries.

As grave as this may seem this may prove to be productive for all people of the region. There is a new kid on the block and he is a bit bigger and more influential, Israel may need to start talking more and shooting less.

I agree that most of the news coverage says very little about how the western powers support Fatah in their political and military campaigns.

That is why I like how Common Dreams now allows comments. We can expand on the article and share more information with each other.

I was reading an entry the other day on Wikipedia about virtual communities. It had a section that quoted researchers saying that virtual communities lead participants to have a greater understanding of the subject material being discussed and a greater connection to the world.

So thanks to everyone who is here sharing thoughts and information.

I have a hard time imagining that Israel will be shooting less with Hamas in power, especially given this indication that they are *actively hindering* Fatah (read the article again; it never suggested that Fatah expected arms *from* Israel, just that they would allow delivereies of arms to *pass through* Israel) - one must wonder why they would do that, if not in hopes of facing more militant leaders in Palestine. I don't think this is good news for people who support peace and justice.

Every newspaper mention of Hamas also states that it "refuses to recognize Israel or renounce violence." This clause
is a journalistic ball-and-chain. The fact that Israel likewise refuses to recognize Hamas and renounce violence against Palestinians is never mentioned. DOUBLE STANDARD!

Mahmoud Abbas is probably the most corrupt, bought off "leader" in the whole Middle East (a region full of corrupt, bought off leaders). It is easy to see why he is scared and why the US/UK/Israel is scared too. The Palestinians are finally rising up against him.

Hamas won the election and they have essentially been kept out of real power by the US etc. now they finally have it at least in Gaza, they should be governing all the palestinian territories wether we like it not, that is what democracy is all about as far as I can tell, the will of the people. Now when they get rid of Abbas maybe we can get on with making some real progress in Palestine. Good for Hamas!

see ali abumimah's article, "a setback for the bush doctrine in gaza" (electronicintifada.net), mark perry and paul woodward's piece in asia times, "document details u.s. plan to sink hamas," especially on the role of elliott abrams (www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East), and tony karon's article on the propping up of mohammad dahlan "palestinian pinochet making his move" on his website, rootless cosmopolitan (tonykaron.com)

As long as Israel and the U.S. oppose Hamas they will grow in popularity. An external threat always supports the internal dictator.

If after the election of Hamas cautious discussions were held while they tried to govern it is likely that the population would have gradually become disillusioned with this radical leadership.

We always look devious when our moronic leaders flap their gums about Democracy and then continue to overthrow any popular foreign government.

correction typo in my post of articles above, ali abunimah.

Non violent action will have more lasting positive results than the use of violence, especially when you're out powered.

I have to agree with shakker; a group which actually supports the Palestinians materially, was popularly elected and actually defends the Palestinian interests against those who in the past refused even to recognize that Palestinians existed, must be a very radical group! Can you imagine a government which so far has proven to be un-corrupted?

OK Saila,

If you support a fundamentalist regime that publicly calls for random killing of Jews, annihilate one of the UN members, stoning of homosexuals to death, discrimination against woman, eliminate freedom of religion speech and thoughts. And you also support violent military cope against government police forces... then I'll try to ignore you.

Thank you...

I wonder why the Jewish people moved to a place that could be attacked in the first place? To a spot that holds such controversy. Why would you move sixty years ago to a land below your enemy and piss them off when they have lived there 2000yrs? If violence begets violence, who do you support? To pick a side is stupid. Its like watching the ball game of the end of the world here, your Mom and Dad in a fight and your seven yrs old. Who are you going to starve? The corrupt rebel or the corrupt executioner? I'm just glad my Jewish friends get along with my Islamic friends. That is how democracy works on the street, between individuals. Leaders lead and Rulers rule and war measures out to be pretty petty.

Hey history buffs! 'WHO' put Israel on the map 'THERE'?