Ambassador Says Hamas Gaining Strength

KenH · Aug 18, 2005

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LadyEagle · Aug 18, 2005

So why even bother to post that, Ken, since you seemed to be gung ho for the Gaza pullout? Of course, that was going to happen - easily predicted, by those of us who are angry at giving up land to terrorists. The terrorists won. Next is Jerusalem and then the sea, according to them.

KenH · Aug 18, 2005

I posted it because it is news. Those of us who applaud the Israelis in taking a chance on the peace process are well aware of the potential pitfalls, as are the Israelis. The status quo was not going to resolve the problems between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

At least at the moment the children of the Israelis and the Palestinians can dream of a better future. Let's hope and pray that it materalizes for them.

Enoch · Aug 19, 2005

This is one of the many reasons I oppose the Gaza pullout. The Gaza will be used as a terror base for various organizations. The media is selective on which topics get more coverage. Hamas won elections in January of this year in Gaza. They currently have been parading in the streets proclaiming that terrorism works. Osama bin Laden himself ordered the Israeli’s to give the Gaza to the Palestinians. Hamas has one major objective and they make no qualms about it – to take ALL of Israel and annihilate the Jewish people.

Hamas wins local elections in Gaza

The Islamic group Hamas won an overwhelming victory in local elections in 10 Gaza towns, election officials said Friday, in a setback for the Fatah Party of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
The Hamas victory reflected widespread support in Gaza for the violent Islamic movement, which provides welfare, schools and kindergartens to the impoverished residents of the territory, alongside its attacks against Israel.
However, it appeared residents mostly voted on local issues and to express their anger over corruption in the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority, and that they did not necessarily endorse Hamas' violent ideology.
An Associated Press analysis based on lists provided by the competing factions found that Hamas won 75 council seats in the 10 electoral districts, Fatah 30, independents three, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine one, and clan-affiliated Fatah supporters nine.
Palestinian Authority Local Affairs Minister Jamal al-Shobaki said the overall turnout was 85 percent and 20 of the 118 winners were women.
Thousands of Hamas supporters took to the streets of Gaza Friday to celebrate the victory. Chanting "Hamas is the real way for reform and rebuilding," the supporters waved green Hamas flags and distributed candy.
In Bani Suhalia in southern Gaza, voters said they supported Hamas because it stood for good government - a sharp contrast to the corruption and cronyism they attributed to Fatah rule.
"We need to have good education and a good heath system," said Mona Ibrahim, her face almost totally covered by a black veil. "Fatah has been all about nepotism and bribes. Nepotism and bribes flourished during the Fatah era."
In northern Gaza, Radawan Shabat, a 65-year-old farmer, said he had voted for Hamas because "they have clean hands and are not corrupt."
The poll results could give Hamas more leverage in its negotiations with Abbas over power sharing. The results could herald a similar strong showing for Hamas in legislative elections set for July.
Abbas has been trying to co-opt militants into the system, recently winning a pledge from them to temporarily halt attacks on Israel. The Gaza vote was not expected to seriously hinder his new government.
"We consider this victory a victory of the Palestinian people," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. "It's not the victory of somebody against somebody, the competition was to serve our people's interests."
Hamas ran in nine of the towns, under the slogan "Change and Reform."
Thursday's vote was the first ever municipal election in the coastal strip and a key electoral test for the Hamas which is shifting its focus toward politics after agreeing to suspend attacks on Israel.
Another Hamas spokesman said the victory was a vindication for the group's militant strategy.
"This is a big victory for the resistance," said the spokesman, Mushir al Masri. "It seems that resistance and Qassam (rockets) that used to be fired ... have won," he said.
The Gaza voting follows Dec. 23 local election in 26 West Bank towns and villages, and a Jan. 9 presidential election in which Abbas was chosen to succeed Yasser Arafat after his death on Nov. 11.
In the local elections in the West Bank, Hamas made a strong showing and took control of several towns away from Fatah. The local elections mark the first time Hamas is competing for voter support.
Click to expand...

JPost

Ben W · Aug 19, 2005

What is being overlooked by many is that a number of Palestinians do not want the Israelis to pull out of Gaza. Without Israeli investment, the will be a third world country with no rescources or infrastructure, a number of Palestinains rely on Israeli support in order to make a living.

Another thing that is often not mentioned is that Palestinians are often regarded as the most hated group of muslims by other muslims. They were massacred in more than one Arab nation when it was feared they might seek independance, but you dont hear that on the news.

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