Headache for Israel and the West

Hamas has a reputation among the electorate of social involvement and incorruptibility. For Israel and the West, however, the radical Islamic Hamas is a political pariah. Peter Philipp comments the outcome of the Palestinian elections

There was no doubt before the Palestinian elections that the Islamist group Hamas would be a serious competitor to Fatah and that it would possibly even form part of a Fatah-led cabinet in the next Palestinian government. Be that as it may, not even the movement’s supporters and voters considered it possible that Hamas could win a majority and itself form the government.

As far as the electorate was concerned, Fatah, the formerly dominant force in Palestinian politics, had reached a critical point: not only was it being accused of corruption, it was also being criticised for its failure to reach a peace agreement with Israel.

Militant and incorruptible

Hamas, on the other hand, enjoys a reputation among the electorate of social involvement and incorruptibility. The fact that Hamas also stands for the rejection of Israel and the peace process and is responsible for a long list of terrorist attacks was probably only of secondary and tertiary importance to the voters.

Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is putting a brave face on it for the time being. The Palestinian president has already made it known that he would consider entering into a coalition with Hamas, but naturally only if Hamas accepts his political agenda, which remains unchanged: negotiations and peace with Israel.

If Hamas forms the government, he can forget such plans. Unless Hamas itself reaches the conclusion that there can be no progress in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict if the Palestinian side returns to its hard and uncompromising line of the pre-Oslo accord days, rejects Israel’s right to exist, and employs violence and terror to achieve its aims.

Serious doubts about new beginning

While Hamas did not voice such standpoints in its election campaign, they are still an integral part of its agenda. And given that this is the case, there must be serious doubt that a new beginning can be made in the peace process. Particularly since Hamas is a party whose agenda does not appeal to many Palestinians because of its religious orientation.

The Israelis in particular were aware before the elections that the involvement of Hamas in a Palestinian government would not only be a headache for Israel, but also for the USA and the EU: all three had defined Hamas as a terrorist organisation and banned it.

At first glance, it now seems difficult to imagine how Hamas could now suddenly be deemed acceptable.

Washington has already hinted at what might happen: one could, it suggested, continue to talk to the Palestinian government, but not to Hamas members. This is a solution the United States already applies to Lebanon, where it does not communicate with cabinet members who represent Hisb Allah which, like Hamas, is considered by the West to be a terrorist organisation.

Such a solution would not, however, be practicable if Hamas is the driving force in the Palestinian government.

Peter Philipp

Translated from the German by Aingeal Flanagan

Qantara.de

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