He says, "civil society in Palestine is more vibrant than anywhere else in the region".
Beyond parody.
I'm mostly in agreement with Emanuele Ottolenghi that this is potentially a good thing. But, yeah -- as an example of Guardian vileness, this goes to the head of the line.
Posted at 2006-01-27 08:17:58 [PermaLink]"The poll was a more impressive display of democracy than any other in the region, outstripping last year's votes in Lebanon and Iraq both in turnout and the range of views that candidates represented."
Mithal al-Alusi was elected in Iraq to a seat. He traveled to Israel last year, has called for peace with Israel, and blames Syria and Iran for sending terrorists to Iraq. Please point me to the similar candidate in the PA. The range of views in the candidates in Lebanon was also extremely impressive. This reporter is an idiot.
Why is it that no media commentators have commented on the validity of a "free" election when one of the parties regularly patrols neighborhoods in large groups armed with machine guns.
You'd think that worrying about one's armed and trigger happy neighbors finding out about your vote would be a bit of a deterent for anybody thinking of voting against Hamas.
I know it would certainly would have been considered an election problem in Canada if the Conservative campaigners regularly held armed parades.
This is a good thing, or at least potentially. The Palestinians need to learn that they are responsible for their own decisions. If they want to act like total nutjobs and elect people like Hamas as their leaders, then they have to pay the price for it. And hopefully they will learn better, next time. Though I really don't think Hamas is that much worse than Fatah.
Posted at 2006-01-27 14:13:05 [PermaLink]Reality is sinking in, via Bros. Judd:
[External Link]
Indeed, a Hamas leader in Nablus, a professor at An-Najah University who did not run, told the Post that many of the leaders were disappointed with the results. "We didn't want this, we didn't hope for this. We wanted to be in the opposition," he said, speaking at a green-flagged, rabble-rousing victory rally in downtown Nablus. "Now all the responsibility is on us."
"[C]ivil society in Palestine is more vibrant ...": not just vibrant but positively explosive.
Cheers
JMH
This is not meant as a direct comparison, but it is worth noting the when Hitler took office in 1933 many thought the responsibilities of governing would moderate the Nazis.
Perhaps more directly to the point are the events after Ayatollah Khomenei's takeover in Iran.
Since Hamas is an avowedly Islamic movement, I am bemused by the Grauniad's assertion that the elections are "...further proof that civil society in Palestine is more vibrant than anywhere else in the region...". Terminological contradiction I would say.
Or perhaps the strength of the Catholic Church in Poland is also a reflection of the strength of civil society there--though I don't think the Grauniad would say so.
Mark
Ottawa
like many journalists, Steele is willing to support Palestinian democracy to the last dead Israeli.
Posted at 2006-01-28 22:38:17 [PermaLink]