Comments on: Hamas Legitimized http://www.philipklein.com/2006/01/hamas-legitimized/ Just another WordPress weblog Wed, 28 Jun 2006 02:16:13 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Philip http://www.philipklein.com/2006/01/hamas-legitimized/comment-page-1/#comment-643 Philip Mon, 30 Jan 2006 07:01:55 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=878#comment-643 But Arafat ruled over the Palestinians like a dictator, and he didn't lose global support or his ability to play a victim. But Arafat ruled over the Palestinians like a dictator, and he didn’t lose global support or his ability to play a victim.

]]> By: Alfonso http://www.philipklein.com/2006/01/hamas-legitimized/comment-page-1/#comment-642 Alfonso Sun, 29 Jan 2006 01:37:26 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=878#comment-642 But the Palestinians won't be able to be a totalitarian state in the same way that Egypt and Syria are. Unlike those countries, the Palestinians depend on having the world perceive them as victims. So they will have to choose whether they'd rather remain in the public eye, playing the victim for the world, or whether they'd rather let Hamas turn the place into a dictatorship and withdraw from public view. If they turn to totalitarianism, they will slide back into pre-Oslo irrelevance, and if they don't, sooner or later they will fall from power. But the Palestinians won’t be able to be a totalitarian state in the same way that Egypt and Syria are. Unlike those countries, the Palestinians depend on having the world perceive them as victims. So they will have to choose whether they’d rather remain in the public eye, playing the victim for the world, or whether they’d rather let Hamas turn the place into a dictatorship and withdraw from public view. If they turn to totalitarianism, they will slide back into pre-Oslo irrelevance, and if they don’t, sooner or later they will fall from power.

]]> By: Philip Klein http://www.philipklein.com/2006/01/hamas-legitimized/comment-page-1/#comment-641 Philip Klein Sat, 28 Jan 2006 21:52:06 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=878#comment-641 "Now no one can say that the Palestinians, by and large, want peace." Just wait! "Hamas will now have to either put up or shut up, and once they fail to deliver better standards of living to the Palestinian people, they will fall from power." Not necessarily. That presumes that the Palestinian Authority will remain a democracy. But now that Hamas is in power, nothing is preventing them from establishing totalitarian rule. “Now no one can say that the Palestinians, by and large, want peace.”

Just wait!

“Hamas will now have to either put up or shut up, and once they fail to deliver better standards of living to the Palestinian people, they will fall from power.”

Not necessarily. That presumes that the Palestinian Authority will remain a democracy. But now that Hamas is in power, nothing is preventing them from establishing totalitarian rule.

]]> By: Alfonso http://www.philipklein.com/2006/01/hamas-legitimized/comment-page-1/#comment-640 Alfonso Sat, 28 Jan 2006 03:18:34 +0000 http://www.philipklein.com/?p=878#comment-640 I actually think it is a good thing (in a way) that Hamas was elected. Now no one can say that the Palestinians, by and large, want peace. And no one can fault Israel for not negotiating with a party that is openly committed to their destruction. Also, like all movements that make it to power by disparaging those in power, Hamas will now have to either put up or shut up, and once they fail to deliver better standards of living to the Palestinian people, they will fall from power. I actually think it is a good thing (in a way) that Hamas was elected. Now no one can say that the Palestinians, by and large, want peace. And no one can fault Israel for not negotiating with a party that is openly committed to their destruction. Also, like all movements that make it to power by disparaging those in power, Hamas will now have to either put up or shut up, and once they fail to deliver better standards of living to the Palestinian people, they will fall from power.

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