Thursday, January 26, 2006

Hamas's Electoral Victory: Links in Lieu of Thoughts

In thinking about the politics of Israel/Palestine, I've come around to the side of the angels -- that is, the angels who fear to tread where fools rush in: best to talk about other things, where I have some hope of shedding some light, and some hope of avoiding much heat.

But on hearing of Hamas's electoral victory, I thought of Harvey Pekar's characteristically understated reaction to the news of 9/11:



(Art by Tony Millionaire; from the book 9-11 Emergency Relief.)

I don't feel certain of anything in this area -- not even of my overwhelming sense that this cannot be good. So I won't say much else. But here are a few perspectives that I found interesting to read today; no other endorsement of their views is implied.

Abu Aardvark advises caution. (via)
Patrick Belton, who is currently reporting from the West Bank (and whose blog is probably a good one to watch), says that Hanan Ashrawi told him that she "thought Hamas would bring the West Bank and Gaza into theocracy."
Yossi Klein Halevi says that this means that the Palestinians have rejected the notion of peace entirely.
Ali Abunimah sees this as Palestinian rejection of an unjust, Israeli & American-imposed settlement.
Andrew Sullivan says Hamas's victory "represents one critical pillar beneath the Bush foreign policy crumbling into dust". (Update: Ezra Klein adds that Sullivan "doesn't quite mention that [hispoint] applies primarily to the writings of Andrew Sullivan.")
Eric Alterman says that this shows that "things can always get worse", and dwells on dismal ironies.
The Head Heeb offers a number of thoughts. (via)

More links if/as I see any. If anyone here has any to share, feel free to leave them in comments.

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