Quoted: Who still believes that the Israeli wall is a BAD idea and that giving up territory was a GOOD one?

I still believe they were both good ideas.
Pulling out of gaza gave a lot of freedom of action to the IDF when the inevitable reprisals come.

Netenyahu on FOX now, he's talking hardcore....

Quoted: As one of our esteemed members once put it: "Palestinians? I think not. There are Arab Muslims living in Israel. There has never been a Palestinian country, nation, or race. There has never been Palestinian language, culture, or ethnicity. They are Arab Muslims living in Israel. Theirs is a manufactured cause. BTW, in the call for a "Palestinian homeland", why not take land from Jordan? Jordan covers some 80% of the region referred to as "Palestine" (Note: region, not nation) when the Brits parcelled it out (re: Mandate for Palestine). The simple truth (yes, it is simple) is that these self-proclaimed 'Palestinians' have one goal: The destruction of the state of Israel. That's it. They are terroristic, murdering thugs who mainly kill civilians, including children, rather than fighting the IDF. - --Brohawk"

That is right on the money. What did the Jordanians do when the "Palestinians" needed
help? Nothing. What about the rest of their Muslim "brothers"? NOTHING.

They are using Palestine as the anvil on which to hammer Israel.

Nobody else in the ME cares if the Palis actually got a country of their own.
[Edited to add] That's actually the LAST thing they want to have happen.

Below is a selection of regional and international reaction.


EHUD OLMERT, Acting Israeli Prime Minister
We will not negotiate with a government that does not keep to its most basic commitment - fighting terror.


TZIPI LIVNI, Israeli Foreign Minister
After the takeover by Hamas of the Palestinian Authority, it is incumbent on the European Union to speak out clearly and unequivocally that there will be no European understanding of a process that would mean the establishment of a terrorist government.


GEORGE W BUSH, US President
The United States does not support a political party that wants to destroy our ally Israel. People must renounce that part of their platform. A political party that articulates the destruction of Israel as part of its platform is a party with which we will not deal.



AMR MOUSSA, Arab League Secretary General
The US can't promote democracy but then reject the results of this democracy.



KOFI ANNAN, UN Secretary General
Any group that wishes to participate in the democratic process should ultimately disarm because to carry weapons and participate in a democratic process and sit in parliament, there is a fundamental contradiction and I'm sure they [Hamas] are thinking about that too.



Statement from MAHMOUD ABBAS, Palestinian President
The results should be respected and the president is urging everybody to take this seriously, and after receiving the final results, maybe this evening, he will need somebody to form a new government.


TONY BLAIR, UK Prime Minister
It is important for Hamas to understand that there comes a point - and that point is now following that strong showing - where they have to decide between a path of democracy or a path of violence.


JAVIER SOLANA, EU foreign policy chief
The European Union has supported the smooth running of these elections. We await confirmation of the results.

These results may confront us with an entirely new situation, which will need to be analysed by (EU foreign ministers) next Monday.


SHIMON PERES, Israel's Kadima party
I think it is first of all a problem for the Palestinian people, not for Israel because Hamas is for a unilateral war not for a unilateral peace or withdrawal.

We shall not change our position. If Hamas doesn't want peace, doesn't want negotiations, if they want to continue their terrorist activities I don't think they will have any support from outside or from Israel.


MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI, Independent Palestine Movement chief
If Hamas forms the cabinet alone this will lead to a severe political crisis. If Fatah forms a government that will be opposed by a strong majority of the council, this will paralyse Fatah completely.

So I think there is a moment of truth here, and people have chosen and they have to meet the results of what they've chosen.


HAMID REZA ASEFI, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman
Iran... hopes that the powerful presence of Hamas at the scene brings about great achievements for the Palestinian nation.


DOMINIQUE DE VILLEPIN, French Prime Minister
We are before a situation that leads me to register my concern. I hope the conditions which are indispensable for working with whatever Palestinian government can be fulfilled.

First, the renunciation of violence and agreeing to move forward according to the peace objectives that have been fixed.

And second, recognition of the state of Israel and international agreements.


SILVIO BERLUSCONI, Italian Prime Minister
If the news is true, it would be very, very negative, unfortunately.

Everything that we have hoped for regarding peace between Israel and Palestine would be put back to who knows when.

Quoted: Quoted: AMR MOUSSA, Arab League Secretary General The US can't promote democracy but then reject the results of this democracy. Yes it can you cameldick.

Don't hold back!... say what you mean!

Quoted: Scary thought:  Iran's government gives the Palestinian Hamas party government a nuke....

Iran finances HAMAS....