September 2, 2007
IF YOU CAN'T WIN ELECTIONS, FIX THEM:
Palestinian President Revises Election Law (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, September 2, 2007)
President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday announced a series of changes to Palestinian election laws aimed at bolstering his Fatah Party, the latest attempt by the Palestinian leader to marginalize Hamas since it seized control of the Gaza Strip in June.With Abbas' decree, Palestinians will now vote solely for party lists, while district voting will be eliminated. Hamas swept parliamentary elections last year in large part because of a strong showing at the district level.
The decree also requires all presidential and parliamentary candidates to recognize the Fatah-dominated Palestine Liberation Organization as the ''sole, legitimate representative'' of the Palestinian people.
The US and Israel demonstrate themselves to be enemies of the Palestinian people by siding with such anti-democratic shenanigans. It's a reversion to pre-911 think. Posted by Orrin Judd at September 2, 2007 8:19 AM
Oh, please. Wait a while and give Hamas a chance to rig some elections. I'm sure they won't cavil at the thought.
The Palestinians are their own worst enemies.
Posted by: Twn at September 2, 2007 9:17 AMNo, "helpful" Westerners are.
Hamas won the elections Fatah ran, they don't need fixes.
Posted by: oj at September 2, 2007 11:01 AMNo, "helpful" Westerners are.
Well, they are definitely a close runner up.
Posted by: Twn at September 2, 2007 11:06 AMNo, the Palestinians worst enemies are the Saudis and the Iranians. Of course, if the Palis weren't so self-destructive, it wouldn't matter.
George Bush is probably the best Western friend they have ever had. But if they keep choosing the Europeans, they will remain in dust and mud.
Posted by: jim hamlen at September 2, 2007 1:16 PMW could have been by embracing the elected government he forced on them.
Posted by: oj at September 2, 2007 4:07 PMIt certainly would have made Hamas squeamish.
Posted by: jim hamlen at September 3, 2007 1:18 AM