Hamas Wins

[Dr. Shane]

Israel Ponders Response After Hamas Win

Quote:

---

Official results in the Palestinian balloting aren't expected before late Thursday, but leaders of both the ruling Fatah Party and Hamas said that Hamas, which has masterminded dozens of suicide bombings against Israel, won a majority of Palestinian seats in its first legislative run.

---

Quote:

---

Mideast peace accords of the 1990s stipulated that no terror group could participate in Palestinian elections, but Israel was unable to drum up international support for barring the group from contesting the democratic vote.

---

Quote:

---

"If the Hamas wants to talk about a solution of two states for two peoples, the significance is essentially recognizing the state of Israel, and that means we need to talk, first and foremost about stopping the terror," he said.

Israel Hasson, a former top Shin Bet official, agreed.

"As soon as Hamas talks to us, it's not Hamas any longer," he said.

---

[Ron Lambert]

If the Hamas terrorists become the actual government of Palestine, then that could actually make things simpler for Israel. Instead of having to limit themselves to discrete attacks directed against terrorist cells and factions, now Israel can just declare war on Palestine, and wage a conventional nation vs. nation war.

With Hamas as the official government, this means they are subject to the rules. If they attack Israel again, it will be an official act of war, and Israel will be fully justified by international law in waging full-scale war in response.

[aldona]

Looks like Melbourne's rogue newspaper cartoonist has struck again...

[]http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2006/02/02/svCARTOON_gallery__470x326.jpg[/]

[Bravus]

Leunig is indubitably The Man.