Hamas seeks primacy in Gaza

[Herschel]

Israel's stated intention of withdrawing from the Gaza Strip is posing new questions - and apparent opportunities - for Hamas, the militant Islamist group.

Hamas's leaders say they are seeking to translate the movement's wide street popularity into a role in decision making previously monopolized by Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement, which is now racked by internal crisis.

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A December poll by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed that Hamas has overtaken Fatah as the most popular political grouping in the Gaza Strip.

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http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0303/p01s04-wome.html

This cradle of murderers is the most popular political grouping in the Gaza Strip? Oh, my.

[Forkboy]

1. Sharon and the IDF are doing a swell job

of making them even more popular.Oh,my!

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

2. Is it a surprise?

What little government the Palestinians have tries to negotiate in earnest with the Israelis, only to find assassinations and home bull-dozings continue, only to find the Separation Land Grab Wall continues to be built, only to find that they still have no rights. Cease fires simply result in more assassinations by the IDF. So when the gov't can't get the job done, the people start looking to anyone who's willing to fight on their behalf. And guess who fills in the blank there? If Sharon is serious about stopping terrorism, he has to make a true good faith effort to stop the cycle of violence and enter SERIOUS negotiations with the Palestinian government. The government needs to be able to go back to their people and show them some kind of progress, or they won't have the backing of the people. But Sharon would prefer war because war breeds fear and fear causes the people to vote for a military leader (sound familiar to Bush at all?)