Free Republic

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Hamas' strong showing in Palestinian parliamentary elections will likely lead to an all-out war with Israel, a leading expert here said on Thursday. Hamas soundly defeated Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction in Wednesday's parliamentary elections, winning more than half the seats. That gives Hamas a major say in the makeup of the next Palestinian government. It also gives the terrorist group the opportunity to put its own members in charge of tens of thousands of Palestinian Authority security forces.

There are strong indications that the Islamic militant group Hamas has won a stunning victory in Wednesday's Palestinian parliamentary elections. Official results are to be announced at around 1900 local time (1700 GMT), but PM Ahmed Qurei has offered to resign.