What is most astonishing about all this is that so many Western analysts think that if Hamas comes to power it will have to temper its destroy-Israel rhetoric and play to the center. Why would that be? The Bolsheviks and Nazis, to name just two totalitarian movements preceding Hamas, seemed to get along just fine in power without moderating significantly.
From AP, with thanks to JE:
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The militant Islamic Hamas group spoke openly for the first time Saturday about the possibility of forming the next Palestinian government after this month’s parliamentary elections.
Hamas is expected to deliver a major drubbing to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party, which has dominated Palestinian politics for four decades. But Hamas has never directly said it might agree to form a government.
During a campaign visit to families of people killed or taken prisoner in the past five years of conflict with Israel, Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar was asked if the atmosphere were ripe for Hamas to form a government that would not deal with Israel, Hamas reported on its Web site.
“Yes. We are running for the Legislative Council to put an end to the vestiges of Oslo,” Zahar said, referring to the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestinians of the early 1990s.