Now if anyone out there thinks that since Hamas won the elections last week, they are going to suddenly back away from what they have been doing or saying in the past, then I have some swampland in Montana I would like to see you.
The Bush administration in their zeal to have elections in the Middle East, have brought about Hamas a a viable political force, something they did not want to happen. Now that Hamas has won, both the administration and Israel are on alert. Ehud Olmert, the prime minister of Israel says that their will be no peace talks with Hamas until and unless they renounce terrorism, and make sure that Israel's borders are safe and secure.
It would be stupid for this or any other administration to talk to Hamas right now. Their stated goal in life is the utter destruction of Israel. You can't have that kind of ideology, and expect others to have an open mind.
Right now, Islamic fundamentalism is running rampant in the Middle East. Hamas has come to power, the president of Iran is a mental midget, and other elections in the region have turned against the peace process.
This is a dangerous time so far as the Middle East is concerned. Israel will have elections later on in the year, and Benjamin Netanyahu is just waiting in the wings to take over, and if that happens, all will be lost with regards to any peace agreements, and most likely within the year, their will be full scale conflict in the region once again.
But getting back to Hamas, this is a dangerous organization, that must be carefully watched in the coming months. How will they govern? Will the Fatah party go along, or will they resist the new government? Will Hamas renounce terrorism? Will they get Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah to do the same? Will the Kadima party in Israel win even without Ariel Sharon leading it? What will the Bush administration do?
This will be a very interesting few months to be sure. I would not trust Hamas to renounce anything they have done in the past. They are a terrorist organization that deserves no favors. They must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt, that they are ready to sit at the peace table with Israel and the US, and talk. Until they do, don't give them an inch.