You Get What You Vote For. What Does Hamas Get Us?

Washington Post ^ | 2/5/6 | Abdallah Alsalmi

[SmithL]

Here in Gaza, we are holding our breath, waiting to see what the unprecedented victory of Hamas in our legislative elections will mean for us. The territory is quiet. Even the militants have taken a break from launching rockets or occupying government buildings.

Ironically, the subdued atmosphere is a clear sign of the violent turmoil inside each and every Palestinian. But this unease is not focused on what attacks or retaliations might occur between Hamas and its avowed enemy, Israel. Instead, what I hear my neighbors and colleagues discussing is: How will Hamas govern without the support of international donors? Will I receive next month's paycheck?

It is easy to be cynical about these questions. After all, the Palestinians who voted for Hamas -- which remains dedicated to the destruction of Israel -- are collectively the same people who have told pollsters that, like the majority of Israelis, they want to end the Middle East conflict peacefully on the basis of a two-state solution.

So why did so many throw their support behind Hamas? In recent days I have asked this question of many friends and colleagues, and most of their answers had nothing to do with Israel.

Most common was the idea voiced by a woman named Ghada Rabee: "I elected Hamas to get back at the corrupt Palestinian Authority."

Educated as an English teacher, Rabee did not have the right connections to secure a job in the Palestinian Authority's school system, and all she has been able to find is volunteer work as a translator in my office. "The corrupt Fatah government did not give us good services or proper employment," Rabee says bitterly.

Rabee also expressed a sentiment I have heard, in different words, from many people: "I feel I belong to them" -- to Hamas...

[Kay]

The Palistinians were given free will. They exercised it. Now we'll see if they like the flavor they chose.

They remind me of our Democrats -- the PAs are chronic victims.

[bill1952]

They remind me of our Democrats

"The corrupt Fatah government did not give us good services or proper employment," Rabee says bitterly.

"The plantation owners in the republican congress, and you know what I mean, of the corrupt Bush government did not give us services or proper employment.
Its a jobless recovery

Hillary and Dean talking points

[Fighter@heart]

"You Get What You Vote For. What Does Hamas Get Us?"
Hopefully a chance to reflect upon a stupid choice & a loss of multi-nation foreign aid for a starters!!

[Dutch Boy]

Or it makes the terrorists a bit bolder so the Israeli snipers get a clearer shot.

Actually, I think this is were the rubber hits the road. Everyone wants to be incharge but few realize what that means. They are no responsible for things they never dreamed would be part of there lives. This will be interesting to watch.

[Wuli]

You have to read to the end of this article, and there you see that it was mounted as a means to blame all Palestinian ills, including Hamas election victory on Isreal.

My paraphrasing of those last paragraphs, to me, shows that the author is saying that because Israel fought back and refused to sit silent to terrorist attacks, it demonstrated how weak, corrupt and unreliable that Fatah and the PA really were. Yet, the author is ignoring that Hamas will look, and will be, equally as weak and unreliable in the face of Israeli responses, if Hamas opens/extends/continues the intifada.

[bert]

Great post..... precisely correct.