Friday January 27, 2006

I'm Predicting:

Hamas just trounced Fatah in the PA elections. No surprise.

Get ready for a new Palestinian Authority under Hamas.
There will be less corruption.
There will be more public services.
Women's right will be severely curtailed.
Life in the Palestinian Authority will mimic life in Iran.

There is no going back.
This was the first Palestinian election in ten years and there will not be another election unless there is a revolt.
And revolt, or civil war, is a likely scenario, indeed.
There will be a huge anti-Hamas backlash when policies are implemented and religious police begin surveillance.

For the West it is a huge step backward - there were high hopes for this election. For Israel there is a clear read on the desires and beliefs of their neighbors.
The only upside of this entire election for anyone other than Hamas is that Israel will be better able to defend Israelis. But at what cost to the world?!