Hamas Wins 40% of vote - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

arsenal · 01-25-2006, 03:41 PM

According to exit polls.
http://edition.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/me...ion/index.html

Quote:

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- In the first Palestinian parliamentary elections in a decade, the ruling Fatah Party fell short of a majority in the 132-seat parliament, with the militant group Hamas thrusting itself onto the political scene, exit polls showed late Wednesday.
According to one exit poll from Bir Zeit University, Fatah garnered 46.4 percent of the vote and Hamas won 39.8 percent. That translates into 63 seats for Fatah and 58 for Hamas, according to the exit poll.

I understand that it is not a majority, but it looks like Hamas will be the offical opposition. Do you think this will change the way Hamas conducts is business, choosing political process rather than violence?

Cowperson · 01-25-2006, 04:00 PM

I think their 40% probably represents disatisfaction with the corruption left by Yasser Arafat - like Jean Chretien leaving an egg for Paul Martin - than anything else.

But, that's the beauty of an election . . . . . the vote represents the truth of what people are thinking and gives a voice to disatisfaction.

Its just a positive thing to see in Palestine, regardless of who actually wins, even if its a terrorist organization. Now you know if they're supported by the population. Deal with it on that level.

Cowperson

MarchHare · 01-25-2006, 04:10 PM

Admittedly I'm no expert when it comes to Palestinian politics, but wasn't much of the peace process between the UK and the IRA done through Sinn Fien? Perhaps this is the first step in seeing Hamas try to advance their agenda through the political process, rather than through terrorism.

Then again, maybe not.

arsenal · 01-25-2006, 04:23 PM

I have no doubt that part of this is due to people feeling as though the current leadership has failed them. But haven't they had the most progress towards a Palestinian State since Arafat died? I guess they see things differently inside the country.

Bleeding Red · 01-26-2006, 08:25 AM

the positive note - They want to work with Abbas & Fatah within the government to improve life in the PA.

The negative notes - They have no interes in, nor intend to: a) recognize the State of Israel; B) Negotiate with Israel; C) give up 'the armed struggle'/terrorism

C is clearly the problem. Hamas will not disarm. As for A & B, well Israel and the US will not recognize or negotiate with them either, so the feeling is mutual.

The Israeli elections are in March. Olmert (PM) will probably move forward with the "complete disengagement (finish the security fence, evacuate some small J&S communities)' platform. His main opponent on the left has already said he will not negotiate with Hamas, but will also continue the disengagement. On the right, they will play this as "see what running away did, our enemies went and elected the terrorists!" The hard-liners see disengagement as a reward for terrorism.

Now is the time for the international community to step up and pressure Hamas to renounce terrorism and disarm by witholding monetary aid.

Cowperson · 01-26-2006, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleeding Red

the positive note - They want to work with Abbas & Fatah within the government to improve life in the PA.

The negative notes - They have no interes in, nor intend to: a) recognize the State of Israel; B) Negotiate with Israel; C) give up 'the armed struggle'/terrorism

C is clearly the problem. Hamas will not disarm. As for A & B, well Israel and the US will not recognize or negotiate with them either, so the feeling is mutual.

The Israeli elections are in March. Olmert (PM) will probably move forward with the "complete disengagement (finish the security fence, evacuate some small J&S communities)' platform. His main opponent on the left has already said he will not negotiate with Hamas, but will also continue the disengagement. On the right, they will play this as "see what running away did, our enemies went and elected the terrorists!" The hard-liners see disengagement as a reward for terrorism.

Now is the time for the international community to step up and pressure Hamas to renounce terrorism and disarm by witholding monetary aid.

Again, that's the beauty of a democractic vote like this . . . . . you put the terrorists in charge, the guys who refuse to negotiate, and the excuses start to come off the table.

If Hamas is lobbing missiles into Israel then its no longer a bunch of wingnuts off on their own doing something . . . . . it's sponsored by the state with all the consequences that come with that.

That puts them on the same footing as Israel whom left wing critics say are guilty of provocations and atrocities on the other side of the argument.

In the end, its probably progress even if they're initially promising not to talk with each other.

Cowperson

ernie · 01-26-2006, 12:12 PM

As an update. The exit polls seemed to imply that Fatah held onto power, however, Hamas actually won a majority. With 95% of the vote counted they hold 76 of the 132 seats. Fatah holds 43. 13 went to smaller parties or independents. Needless to say it has shocked the worlds governments. most are saying that in order to be recognized as the government they must renounce the Hamas policy that Israel be destroyed.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20...409964-ap.html

Rice on the hamas victory in

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20...412372-ap.html

world governments shocked in

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/20...412697-ap.html

Harper's response: "For a nation to be truly democratic, that nation must renounce terrorism."

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2...412935-cp.html

It certainly doesn't seem as though a step towards peace was taken...quite the opposite.

arsenal · 01-26-2006, 01:24 PM

Definately not. Not to trivialize the situation, but this looks alot like the NHL / NHLPA CBA negatiations. Hamas saying that they will never reconize Israel does not give them any room to negotiate with.
It looks like they are doomed either way. Either on the world stage for never reconizing Israel, or with the people that elected them ,assuming that they do reconize Israel at some point in order to start negotiations.

Shawnski · 01-26-2006, 04:03 PM

I think Fatah are saying Fata right about now....

FlamesAddiction · 01-26-2006, 05:52 PM

It's similar to what happened here in some ways.

You have a party that was plagued by scandal and corruption, and so instead, the voters went with an alternative - one that used to be considered too extreme.

(And no, I'm not comparing the Conservatives to Hamas. Just the situations.)

Shawnski · 01-26-2006, 06:12 PM

I don't know FA, even the thought of associating the word "extreme" with both of those is doing the CPC an injustice.

I saw a clip of an ad that Hamas ran. It was showing the torso of a person wrapped in explosives, and then a superimposed explosion as that person "blew up". THAT is extreme. And quite frankly, I am sick and tired of that word being used in Canadian politics.

But our election is over. Perhaps, just perhaps, over the next while, people here might decide that term is way out of line.

HOZ · 01-26-2006, 07:17 PM

Well at least we all now know where the Palestinians truely stand on the issue of peace. They are definitely all FOR driving every last Jew into the sea. No "ands", "ifs" or "buts" about it.