69 million page views

From Rights to Responsibility.

Reader comment on item: Why Hamas['s Electoral Victory] Leaves Me Neutral

Submitted by RPaine (Australia), Feb 1, 2006 at 10:32

Dear Dr. Pipes,

Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us. We are all better for knowing you.

Re: Hamas' inherited Responsibility

Let's face it, the Palestinians voted for Hamas to govern and Hamas is now the official Government of Palestine. Before they talked about Rights, but now they have Responsibility.

The discussion has focused, to a great extent on "why?" and surprise, but this is potentially the ideal situation, I suggest. Everything is getting clearer. On one hand, Hamas had operated as an organisation in the past, not a Government: to the West and Israel, they were a terrorist organization; but to the Palestinians and Muslim-world they were freedom-fighters, "Jihadists" (and to them Jihad or fighting the Infidels is a good thing, right?), a charitable organization and an effective weapon against those who they wished to harm, especially Israel.

On the other hand, now all the anonymity that Hamas had enjoyed as a non-Governmental organization is gone! They can no longer hide behind Fatah's ‘skirt' and enjoy a semblance of anonymity. They are no longer on the sidelines; they are in the BIG game now, where responsibility counts. For Hamas to send a single suicide bomber into Israel at this point could/would constitute an act of war, which could easily see a military response against all of Palestine. There is a big difference in the position that they now find themselves, for there is no place to hide, and they are going to take all of Palestine with them on this journey, whether for good or for bad - they are now accountable! So, if they chose un-wisely they will be (in my humble opinion) hammered from every direction. There is no more grey area and Hamas now has a crucial choice to make!

Ultimately, they will probably step with care at first until they can figure out how to evade the bright sun-light that now shines on their every move. And it's going to be very difficult for them to just franchise their suicide terror to other groups or re-brand their terror operations under a new name through "unrelated" or "unconnected" organizations. They are in a catch-22 situation, and between the proverbial rock and a hard place. Now Hamas will get to show just how responsible they are, for the Palestinian future rest in their hands.

Best wishes,
RPaine
Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (47) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Hamas may tone down violence significantly... [37 words]Michael SandfortFeb 5, 2006 18:1133864
Confront hatred [189 words]VinodguptFeb 3, 2006 10:3933628
the main impact [157 words]yehudaFeb 3, 2006 01:5933593
It's Time for a Change [221 words]Abraham J. SantiagoFeb 2, 2006 23:0933576
DEALING WITH LIARS [63 words]JOHN MANITTAFeb 2, 2006 21:4733570
Why Europeans should worry more then Israelis. [157 words]YuryFeb 2, 2006 16:5333545
Negotations [195 words]JayFeb 2, 2006 02:2333477
Honor Among Thieves [186 words]Robert SchwartzFeb 2, 2006 02:1133476
America & manorties [320 words]F. ShakkiFeb 1, 2006 21:1533462
minorities [74 words]YuryFeb 3, 2006 18:5733462
Why Hamas Leaves Me Neutral [624 words]Paul la DemainFeb 1, 2006 20:4233461
Neutrality! [110 words]steven LFeb 1, 2006 17:1433441
Hamas Leaves me Neutral [183 words]Ed GordonFeb 1, 2006 16:1133431
Hamas and the "Peace Process" [378 words]Peter G JonesFeb 1, 2006 12:2733408
From Rights to Responsibility. [386 words]RPaineFeb 1, 2006 10:3233391
The more things change, the more they are the same [244 words]ROBERT SHERERFeb 1, 2006 10:2133390
Lets wait and watch [162 words]Amitabh tripathiFeb 1, 2006 02:1133367
Hamas and Israel [78 words]Dan RusenJan 31, 2006 21:4533355
Daniel Pipe's recent reaction to Hamas's victory [101 words]Al RameyJan 31, 2006 20:5233352
... Doom And Gloom Goes Half Way [205 words]Jerome KrasnowJan 31, 2006 19:3233348
Preprogrammed Responses [143 words]Darwin BarrettJan 31, 2006 19:1133345
Qassam Rocket Program Must Be Stopped [92 words]Brendan GormleyJan 31, 2006 18:5733343
The 'Qassam Kindergarten' Jihad [395 words]LauraFeb 12, 2009 03:4833343
Hamas [56 words]Donald W. BalesJan 31, 2006 17:2333328
Hamas : Wolf in Sheep's Clothing [300 words]Aidan MaconachyJan 31, 2006 17:0233325
One State solution [44 words]Sherry SteigmannJan 31, 2006 16:3533317
The Real Benefits of Exporting Democracy & Hamas Victory [253 words]JoeJan 31, 2006 16:0233308
Could Hamas be as surprised by its victory as everyone else? [130 words]Yair WeinstockJan 31, 2006 15:4233304
Dismayed... [108 words]J.S.Jan 31, 2006 15:4033303
Let Abbas Lead [184 words]seanJul 27, 2006 12:1233303
1Palestine-Official Terrorist State [292 words]S. PetreaJan 31, 2006 14:4333292
no quarrels here! [13 words]PDMJan 31, 2006 18:4633292
Palestine-Official Terrorist State [95 words]IanusFeb 1, 2006 18:5533292
Seems to me . . . [77 words]DanielJan 31, 2006 13:4933286
a response [168 words]Frances R jonesJan 31, 2006 13:4633284
What will Hamas do? [89 words]VinodguptJan 31, 2006 13:3733281
Israel Must Make Its Stand [68 words]Liz WagnerJan 31, 2006 13:3133280
Hamas v Arafat,,Leaves me neutral.. [350 words]Kim SegarJan 31, 2006 13:2033279
Dreamer [219 words]Ed KatzJan 31, 2006 12:5433272
Why Hamas Leaves Me Neutral [28 words]KamathJan 31, 2006 12:4833270
Insights [17 words]Magdalene IglarJan 31, 2006 12:1433264
The Beat Goes On [183 words]Dr. Lee D. CaryJan 31, 2006 12:1233263
Predictions for Palestinians? [372 words]Adam HollandJan 31, 2006 12:0133261
Meanwhile... [115 words]David W. LincolnJan 31, 2006 11:5933260
They Made Their Choice--Let Them Live With It [120 words]Jane OJan 31, 2006 11:3533259
I wish I could be as hopeful [306 words]Kenneth S. BesigJan 31, 2006 11:2433256
relations with the enemy [100 words]LauraJan 31, 2006 11:1833255

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)