Gazans say it doesn't matter who wins Israeli vote

[bemildred]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Hamas is the top issue in Israel's election campaign with the front-runner threatening to topple the Gaza rulers and his chief rival talking about further military strikes. But Palestinians say it doesn't make a difference who wins.

Analysts maintain a victory for hard-liner Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday's parliamentary vote could shift Israel's dealings with the Palestinians away from negotiations and toward an even tougher line against Hamas. Even so, Hamas leaders are at least saying they don't care which candidate is elected because all represent the enemy.

"To be honest with you, I don't think anyone is paying attention," said Hamas spokesman Ahmed Yousef.

After last month's devastating Israeli offensive, Gaza and Hamas are at the top of the agenda in the Israeli campaign, and each candidate seems to be trying to outdo the next with a harsher stand against the Islamic militant group.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_ISRAEL_ELECTION_HAMAS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-02-06-15-29-10

Poll results at the bottom are interesting too.

[oberliner]

1. It'd be interesting if they actually had an election

Is that coming up any time soon?

[bemildred]

2. I don't know. I've seen nebulous talk about it.

As near as I can tell, they have to get permission from somewhere to do that.

Edit: I do agree that it would be interesting and useful to have a real vote, secret ballot, purple fingers, all that.

[GoesTo11]

3. They're the same ones who voted for Hamas and got what was promised

lots and lots of rockets fired at Israel, followed by their great "victory".

Guess they are pretty smart when it comes to consequences of elections.