World reaction to the Hamas victory: 'Fasten your seatbelts'

TimesOnline (UK) ^ | 1/26/2006 | Simon Freeman and agencies

[Dark Skies]

The European Union said today that it was reviewing the hundreds of millions of euros in aid that it sends to the Palestinian Authority after the triumph of Hamas in parliamentary elections.

Western leaders lined up to express their concern at the political earthquake, but in the Arab world, the apparent landslide was greeted with jubilation as a triumph which would inspire other Islamist militant groups committed to fighting Israel and America's influence in the Middle East.

European Union leaders must decide whether to continue with its £350 million annual payments to an administration which is now, in its charter, committed to the destruction of the Jewish state. “Oh dear, fasten your seatbelts," said a senior figure on learning of the Prime Minister's resignation.

Leaders in Israel have been banned from making public statements by the acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. An emergency security meeting has been convened as politicians decide on their response which will be made public following confirmation of the results at 5pm (1500GMT).

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, who is in Ankara, said that Hamas would only gain the support of the international community if it opts for democracy over terrorism.

"It is up to Hamas to choose. We will have to wait and see, the international community will want Hamas to make a proper rejection of violence and to acknowledge that Israel exists," he said.

Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said that any group wanting to take part in democratic politics should disarm.

He told Reuters television at the World Economic Forum in Davos: "Any group that wishes to participate in the democratic process should ultimately disarm because to carry weapons and participate in a democratic process and sit in parliament, there is a fundamental contradiction and I’m sure they (Hamas) are thinking about that too."

Javier Solana, the EU Foreign Policy Chief, said that the result raised questions of the EU's contributions to the Palestinians. "These results may confront us with an entirely new situation, which will need to be analysed by [EU foreign ministers] next Monday," he said.

"The EU will express its views and prospects for co-operation with the future Palestinian government in the light of that discussion and of developments on the ground."

Brussels pledged some €280 million in aid alone to the Palestinians in 2005. It has earmarked funds to build a cargo terminal at Gaza airport and sent a monitoring mission to the Gaza Strip border with Egypt.

"It might be a bit difficult to continue to commit European taxpayers’ money to a Palestinian Authority which would not be committed to a peaceful dialogue with Israel," said one diplomat. The issue will top the agenda when EU foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday.

Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, said that the victory of the Islamic militant group Hamas in Palestinian legislative elections was a "very, very, very bad result."

"If this news was confirmed, everything we had hoped for, that chance for peace between Israel and Palestine, is postponed to who knows when," Berlusconi said, according to the ANSA and Apcom news agencies. "It is a very, very, very bad result."

Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, was less forthright. "As a government we have very good relations (in the region), we will be trying to support the restoration of the peace process," she said.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the German Foreign Minister, said: "We could imagine various forces in the (Palestinian) government. But there are two conditions: the forces that join the government must renounce violence," he told German public broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk, adding that the second condition was respecting Israel’s right to exist.

"It seems Hamas still has a long way to go," he added.

Mr Olmert said yesterday that that Israel cannot trust a Palestinian leadership in which the Islamic group has a role.

In the absence of peace talks, Israel is likely to pursue unilateral moves to set a final border on occupied land. This is expected to follow the disputed "suicide bomb" barrier it is building in the West Bank.

Across much of the Arab and Muslim world, the ballot result was a source of celebration. In Iran, which is accused by Israel and the United States of supplying Hamas with weapons and funding, state-run radio said that the vote showed Palestinians support resistance against Israel.

"Now the real representatives of the Palestinian people have come to power," said Javad Majidi, a student at Iran’s Tehran University.

Jihad-Daneshgai, a semi-governmental cultural body active in Iranian universities, congratulated Hamas in a statement, saying the victory "angers the arrogant leaders of the US and the occupiers of Jerusalem (Israel)."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran met Hamas and other militant leaders in Damascus last week, although the regime insists it only gives the groups moral support.

"What happened was tantamount to an earthquake," said Muhammad Jalbout, a Palestinian living in Syria.

"This is a victory to all the region’s free people," said Ayyoub Muhanna, a 29-year-old Lebanese who owns a spare parts shop in the southeast town of Rashaya. "The Palestinians gave their vote to the party that gave of its blood."

Some predicted that Hamas’ victory will spur other Islamist groups in the region to seek more political participation. It will give them a major boost," said Dia’a Rashwan, an Egyptian expert on Islamic movements.

Essam el-Aryan, a spokesman for Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood which recently increased the number of its seats in Egypt’s parliament from 17 to 88 said the Brotherhood was jubilant.

"This is a great victory for Hamas," he said. But he added that the organisation now faces the challenge "of maintaining good relations with the Arab governments and world powers to secure support for the Palestinian cause."

Dawood al-Shirian, a Saudi who hosts a political talk show on Dubai TV, said the Hamas win "will reflect positively on the political process, because Hamas has a good reputation in the Palestinian street."

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.

..................

[Aquinasfan]

Let's go back to the old way of naming wars: the US is now involved in the 1400-Years War.

I'll go along with that.

One silver lining in this cloud should be the death of religious relativism. At least we can hope.

[Migraine]

Wow! Some heavy hitters here, some of whom you might expect to do a mealy-mouthed "Wait-and-see", came out IMMEDIATELY saying, tacitly, "This sucks! We can't pay these bastards money anymore!".
The plot is really thickening.
If Hamas wallpapers over their evil intent, I sure hope none of these heavy hitters will be buying it.

[humint]

World reaction to the Hamas victory: 'Fasten your seatbelts' World opinion round-up...

We've reached an event horizon in world history. It feels awkward to know that future generations will look back at our turbulent time and study it. I know, rather I have faith, that just over the horizon there is a new age of peace and prosperity like mankind has never known before. Will we have to cross a sea of blood to get there? I hope not.

[NoClones]

If they really insist, we can hand Islam the devastating defeat they deserve just in time for the 1400th anniversary of Mohammed's first battle

Works for me!

[Dark Skies]

We've reached an event horizon in world history.

Perfect description!

[dennisw]

Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General Kofi Annan, said that any group wanting to take part in democratic politics should disarm.

Shut the F up you useless bastard. You are controlled by the Muslim bloc in the UN. People like you strengthen Hamas, Iranian nuclear acquisitions and the Islam Jihad in general. Because they are all from the same rotten atavistic 3rd world you are.

[sheik yerbouty]

"Famous Anus" should retire. Maybe he can hand out towels in the men's room of some nightclub..

[DTogo]

"It might be a bit difficult to continue to commit European taxpayers’ money to a Palestinian Authority which would not be committed to a peaceful dialogue with Israel," said one diplomat.

Then again, for the EU, it might NOT be.

[Itzlzha]

I find this sentence interesting...

Leaders in Israel have been banned from making public statements by the acting Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. An emergency security meeting has been convened as politicians decide on their response which will be made public following confirmation of the results at 5pm (1500GMT).

Two things jump to mind.

1) Is Olmert overstepping his bounds, or is this smart PR to let the World soak in the Iran/Hamas-hole mess they allowed to happen with their blessings?

2) Can we ban AMERICAN "leaders" from making "public statements"?

To end the blovating by Hillary, Kennedy, Reid, et al..."Oh Fraptious Day, Calloo...Callay!"

[Convert from ECUSA]

" One silver lining in this cloud should be the death of religious relativism. At least we can hope."

I sure hope you're right, Aquinasfan. Sadly, I think this will not make a ripple in the "liberal" parts of Christianity, they'll see it as a victory for their Anti-Israel-Anti-God agenda.

[The Mayor]

I am sure they will.

[Tolik]

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=97370

World Taken by Surprise by Hamas Victory
15:25 Jan 26, '06 / 26 Tevet 5766
By Hillel Fendel

As foreign governments attempt to formulate their reactions to the Hamas victory, informal talks are underway for a joint Hamas-Fatah government. Fatah is not enthusiastic.

 

Amidst reports that Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) is considering resigning - Prime Minister Abu Ala already resigned this morning - initial contacts are being made for a future PA government.

Leading Hamas official Khaled Meshal, who directs the terrorist organization from Damascus, has asked Abbas to stay on and agree to a unity Hamas-Fatah government. This would serve Hamas' interests, as its experience until now has added up only to waging terror attacks and running charity organizations - but not running a state government. Fatah, however, has not shown great enthusiasm in joining such a regime.

Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, in one of his first decisions today following the Hamas victory, ordered the ministers in his government not to discuss publicly the developments in the PA. He plans to hold an emergency meeting this evening with Foreign Minister Tzippy Livny and Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz to discuss the developments in the Palestinian Authority.

The Hamas victory took the world by surprise. Reports about the elections all predicted a Fatah victory, acknowledging only that it might be narrower than thought. Regarding the U.S., analysts discussed whether or not the Bush Administration would engage in dialogue with Hamas ministers of a Fatah-led government, barely noting the possibility that they might have to consider talking with a government led by Hamas.

U.S. President George Bush told the Wall Street Journal this week, "And so you're getting a sense of how I'm going to deal with Hamas if they end up in positions of responsibility. And the answer is: not until you renounce your desire to destroy Israel will we deal with you."

The Washington Post reported early this week that the U.S. had, relatively secretly, spent $2 million in recent weeks to promote Fatah.

Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yigal Pressler said today that he does not expect Israel to re-enter Gaza, even if Hamas continues its terrorist attacks, as long as it heads the Palestinian Authority. Pressler is a former advisor to Israeli Prime Ministers on terrorism.

Pressler predicted that Israel's refusal to talk with Hamas would last only as long as Hamas says it does not recognize Israel. "I don't see a big difference between Hamas and Fatah," he said. "Israel until now spoke with Fatah because Fatah recognized Israel after the Oslo Accords, but if Hamas decides to recognize Israel, Israel will negotiate with Hamas."

Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz said today that his party would never conduct negotiations with a terror organization that has set out to destroy the State of Israel. Observers said that this position is not so much hawkish as a declaration of intent to promote further unilateral withdrawals.

Former General Security Service director and current Labor Party Knesset candidate Ami Ayalon said, "We have to rely on ourselves; we must continue building the fence, something that is in total [sic] consensus in Israel... We absolutely must not talk with Hamas, unless they totally change their entire approach to Israel - not just if they call another temporary ceasefire or the like..."

[Old_Mil]

This victory for Hamas is tax savings dollars for America.

Don't count on it - Jimmhay Cahter is already saying that we'll continue to support the Palestinian government and I have seen precious little from our "conservative" government to indicate that we won't.

[cwb]

Another silver lining is that if Hamas attacks Israel, it is no longer just a fringe group but the elected government of the Palestinians who is attacking them. For too long, Arafat and his group were able to hide behind these radical groups, pretending to be separate entities. Now, if these attacks continue, it is one country attacking another...clearly an act of war.

[Dark Skies]

Good post, thx.

[Max in Utah]

But it looks like we're on the brink of WWIII.

I'm afraid so too.

[afnamvet]

"Famous Anus" should retire.

You're too kind.

[SupplySider]

Jihad-Daneshgai, a semi-governmental cultural body active in Iranian universities, congratulated Hamas in a statement, saying the victory "angers the arrogant leaders of the US and the occupiers of Jerusalem (Israel)."

It doesn't anger me, it saddens me.

The "Palestinian people" were created as pawns of the Soviets during the cold war. Now this small group of Arabs has officially adopted the violent persona assigned by their superpower master as their own national identity.

The leaders of the totalitarian Arab states have taken over from the Soviets, and support the "Palestinians" in this travesty, purely for personal wealth and power.

The "Palestinians" have no idea that their only friend in the region is actually Israel.

[SupplySider]

I think the only hope here is that Hamas will turn out to be the same corrupt opportunists as was Fatah. Then they will moderate, to keep the dollars and euros flowing.

If they really are the ignorant fundamentalist pawns they project themselves to be, they're doomed.