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Hamas: The Reality of Democracy
Published on Monday, January 30, 2006 by the Toronto Star (Canada)
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Hamas: The Reality of Democracy
By respecting the democratic wishes of the people, Ottawa can help Hamas evolve into a mainstream political party
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by Tarek Fatah and Jehad Aliweiwi
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In December 1991, the militant Algerian Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) surprised everyone by winning the first stage of national legislative elections. The victory stunned the West and, before the FIS could win the crucial second round of elections, the Algerian army stepped in and, with the tacit approval of the U.S. and Europe, cancelled the elections. Several years of savage civil war followed, in which not only tens of thousands died, but also a fresh generation of Islamic militants was born.In attempting to curb Islamic militancy in Algeria, the actions of the United States and Europe achieved the exact opposite.This week's sweeping victory by Hamas in the Palestinian elections forces us all to confront the reality of democracy. Do we respect the will of a people, or do we add to their cynicism about democracy as a system tolerated only if it serves the interests of the U.S. and its allies? We hope the West has learned from its Algerian folly. It is time Western governments took a deep breath and resisted the temptation to act hastily and sow the seeds of another crisis by rejecting the will of the Palestinian people.Prophets of doom are already raising the spectre of Hamas and are urging Canadian and other governments to refuse contacts with the PA. The victory of Hamas and the ascendancy of its social conservative Islamist agenda has been a huge disappointment to many Palestinians and Muslims worldwide. Many believe in a secular, independent and sovereign Palestine, where religion would not be the basis of citizenship. Many prominent Palestinians share concerns. Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi, who was re-elected on a liberal secular platform, has said the Hamas victory is a dramatic turning point and that she is concerned Hamas will impose its fundamentalist social agenda and lead the Palestinians into international isolation.The victory of Hamas has more to do with a sense of failure and mismanagement associated with Fatah than a belief in the Hamas political agenda, and the logical outcome of more than 30 years of living under Israeli occupation.No matter how deeply one differs with Hamas and its politics, the fact is it now has the mandate to represent the people of the occupied Palestinian territories.To reject this mandate will send a disturbing message, not just to the people of Palestine, but to the rest of the Muslim world as well, where ordinary citizens have been struggling for the introduction of democracy long before George Bush saw its merits, and where the U.S. has propped up dictatorships and monarchies for decades. If Israel and the West do not accept the results of the Palestinian election, it will only validate the claim by Islamic fundamentalists that parliamentary democracy is acceptable to the West only if serves the interests of the U.S., not the Arab people.If Israel makes the election of Hamas an excuse not to engage with the Palestinians, cynics will not be wrong to ask: Where was this engagement when Fatah was in power? After all, Israel had 10 years to thrash out a deal with Fatah, but refused to do so and spared no chance to undermine the PA and dismiss Fatah.The new government in Ottawa must not outright reject a working relationship with the new Hamas-led government in Ramallah.Stephen Harper last week joined other Western leaders in demanding Hamas renounce terrorism. "We've always maintained that we support a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine," the prime minister-designate said. "But for a nation to be truly democratic, that nation must renounce any use of terrorism."By respecting the democratic wishes of the Palestinian people, Ottawa can facilitate the evolution of Hamas from an armed group to a mainstream political party. Rabbi Michael Lerner, writing in American-based Jewish magazine Tikkun, spoke for many Israelis and Palestinians when he said, "Without being able to provide any reason to believe that it could deliver an improvement in the conditions of life of the Palestinian people, the Fatah party seems to have been decisively rebuked by the Palestinian people. But this was not a vote for endless war with Israel, but repudiation of the non-performing government of Fatah."Allowed to govern, and faced with the realpolitik of the region, Hamas will recognize the State of Israel and engage in peace talks. Other armed groups have made this transition, why not give Hamas a chance?
Tarek Fatah is host of the weekly TV show, The Muslim Chronicle. Jehad Aliweiwi is host of the weekly Arabic radio show, Kan Ya Makan. Both serve on the board of the Muslim Canadian Congress.
© 2006 The Toronto Star
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