The American Spectator

p> DEMOCRACY, HAMAS, AND ACCOUNTABILITY br> Re: David Yerushalmi’s Democratically Elected Fascists : /p> p>While I agree that democracy does not create peace, I think this argument misses an even more important point. Democracy creates accountability. Throughout the battles that Israel and the Palestinians fought, the horrors that the civilian population endured were the front page stories. Palestinians were innocent civilians caught between Israel and Hamas. Palestinians have now elected known terrorists. There are no longer any innocents. If the freely elected government chooses to promote terrorism, the Israelis are free to answer in kind. The election of Hamas was the best thing the Israelis could have hoped for. br> — Joseph R. Davey /p>

Though I might concur with your general theme you miss the most critical factor. Lacking any other means of consensus, the Palestinians could hide behind a strong man one rule government like Arafat — “We are for peace, it’s Arafat that is the problem.” But now we have a duly elected Hamas government. The burka is off, so to speak. So now the Arab street is as complicit in the actions of the militant Hamas as Hamas itself. And that is a significant milestone.

No longer will the Palestinians be able to claim innocence. No longer can the U.S. government deal in a blind faith that the “People” can be saved if only by moderating the interests of the militants. No longer can Hamas claim status as a nonbelligerent entity lacking any power other than self-defense.

p>From this point forward, Israel can view any attack by a Hamas follower as the equivalent as an attack by the Palestinian Authority and act accordingly under international law. br> — John McGinnis