PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS MARK VICTORY FOR HAMAS
(Washington, DC - 1/26/06) -- In the first legislative elections in nearly a decade, more than 77 percent of the 1.8 million eligible Palestinian voters cast ballots, yielding a higher voter turnout rate than that of an average U.S. election. The Palestinians are to be congratulated for holding what has been lauded as one of the most democratic elections held in the Middle East. Given the severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinians by occupation forces and the
difficulty in traveling to polling places, the large voter turnout can only be seen as a strong statement in favor of democratization on behalf of the Palestinian people.
Alongside Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the now Hamas-dominated Parliament will face the daunting task of realizing the Palestinians' aspiration for an independent state marked by transparency and full democracy. The election cannot be judged as a snapshot but as a dynamic process of evolving attitudes and trends in the region. The international community must provide the new government time in order to gauge its true agenda and allegiance to its people, who seek freedom, security, and social services to improve the quality of their daily lives.
As President Bush
noted during a press conference this morning, "When you give people the vote, you give people the chance to express themselves at the polls, and if they're unhappy with the status quo, they'll let you know… Obviously, people were not happy with the status quo. The people were demanding an honest government, the people want services, they want to be able to raise their children in an environment in which they can get a decent education and they can get health care... If government is not responsive, I'm not surprised if people say I want government to be responsive."
President Bush reiterated this week that the U.S. will not work with Hamas unless it dramatically modifies its behavior and removes from its platform a call for the destruction of the state of Israel. During this morning's press conference, he also said a political force with an armed wing that advocates violence against Israel "is a party with which we will not deal." In fact, a recent poll taken by esteemed Palestinian pollster Khalil Shikaki, head of the Palestinian Center for
Policy and Survey Research, concludes that, for the first time, the overwhelming majority of Palestinians oppose violent attacks against Israelis. Thus, Hamas' victory should be viewed as a vote for social services and a call for improved infrastructure within the territories. Even under occupation, there are many things a government can do. It can improve education, raise living standards, strengthen internal security, and operate in a transparent manner.
The majority of Palestinians and Israelis are in favor of a two-state solution. However, this goal will not be accomplished without the full participation of the United States as an honest, even-handed broker of peace. U.S. disengagement from the peace process has resulted in U.S. isolation from the masses and, hence, further erosion of American interests. If the U.S. imposes sanctions, anyone who does business or humanitarian work in the occupied territories will be endangered. Additionally, withdrawing any funds from the Palestinian Authority as a result of this election would be counterproductive, would wrongly punish the Palestinian people for voting their conscience, and would hinder democratization in the region.
The importance of the democracy project in North Africa and
the Middle East cannot be overstated. The United States has invested vast resources and rhetoric to pushing for democracy in the region, even while some have insinuated that the people of these nations are not fit for democracy. Residents of Algeria, Lebanon and Egypt have debunked this myth with recent democratic elections -- some of which have garnered similar gains for Muslim groups. The democratic aspirations of the people must be accepted and nurtured by the United States, no matter the results.
President Bush has stated that he wants an independent, peaceful state for Palestinians, an end to the occupation and a healthy democracy. Once again, MPAC calls on our government to adopt a policy of even-handedness in the region in order to foster success under the new leadership. The American people need to feel that the U.S. is getting peace dividends from
its large-scale investment in military and foreign aid. Now the onus is on the U.S. government to determine the direction of the peace process in order to achieve peace, democracy and human rights.
It is the hope of the American Muslim community that this election will be a harbinger of the end of the occupation, removal of the apartheid wall and meeting the Palestinian people's aspirations of peace, dignity, independence, and sovereignty. We pray for a future of peace and justice to prevail in this area of prolonged suffering and affliction.
