The global reaction to the success of Hamas in the Palestinian elections brings into question the integrity of the West's claim that it is committed to the principles of democracy, equality and justice. It seems that these principles are applied selectively in relation to wins an election. In 1992 in Algeria, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) was not allowed to form a government.

After the first round of elections, when it was seen that that the FIS was headed for victory, the country's secular military, in league with France and other western powers, cancelled the elections and sabota-ged the democratic process altogether. In Palestine, Israel and the US showed total disregard for the first Palestinian vote, misbehaving with Yasser Arafat and refusing to deal with him.

Now, although Hamas has won 76 out of 132 seats in the assembly and is in a position to form the government, certain western capitals are expressing their distrust and are already decrying the party's success at the polls. 

They are, in effect, refusing to respect the people's verdict.
This is how Rennan Gissin, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister,
reacted to the news of Hamas's success: ""Israel will not deal with any government which has any relation with Hamas or that is formed by Hamas." He further elaborated that "We want a two-nation solu-tion with reasonable people and don't want to form another extremist, terrorist state in the Middle East like Iran."

The next day, on January 26, Israel's interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, after a three-hour emergency meeting, said that Israel would not negotiate with a Palestinian government that includes Hamas. In such an eventuality, he said, "Israel will not conduct any negotiation with a Palestinian government." Israel's foreign minister, Tsipi Livni, appealed to the EU -- the biggest financial donor to the Palestinian Authority -- to firmly oppose the creation of a government that included Hamas which, according to him, was a "terrorist organisation".

After their meeting in London on January 30, the Middle East 'quartet' -- the US, UN, EU and Russia -- responded positively to Israel's call and issued a statement demanding that Hamas renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist. Otherwise, they threatened that EU aid to the PalestinianAuthority would not be released.

A couple of days earlier, British Prime Minister Tony Blair had already said that "It is important for Hamas to ... decide between a path of democracy or a path of violence." It is surprising, especially for the eastern mind, that the West should react to a democratic change in such a way. Seen in this light, certain key aspects of the issue need to be highlighted.

The West seems to ignore the fact that Hamas has won a popular vote through democratic means and can now legitimately to be the voice of Palestine. Hamas should no longer be considered a terrorist organisation because millions have willingly voted for the party. The world should now listen to the people's voice that has made loud and clear through democratic means. We should not forget that a freedom fighter and one nation's hero might be branded a criminal or a terrorist by an enemy country.

The US, controlled by pro-Israel lobbies and an ultra-conservative
president who routinely flouts human rights and international institutions, is sure to fall in line with Israel's attempt to bury the already lifeless road map. Certain western capitals have demanded that Hamas renounce its armed struggle against Israel. The same old ruse is being tried to protract Israel's hold on Palestine, a line not dissimilar to the one taken with Yasser Arafat.

First he was ordered to renounce the military struggle, then he was ditched and all negotiations were terminated. Israel received a ten-year breather  while life for the Palestinians went from bad to worse. Cynicism is idealism  gone sour in the face of reality. Dashed hopes are too painful for any soul to  bear.

The West wonders what sort of people can blow themselves up so readily: when life is made too harsh to live then peace is found in death. We can prevent suicide bombers by making life cherishable for these young people by giving them hope, liberty, self-respect, dignity of labour, and a real sense of freedom from coercion, exploitation and oppression. The US, the West and Israel must realise that until that time comes the Middle East will continue to bleed regardless of whether Hamas or Fatah is in power in Palestinian areas.

It needs to be acknowledged that Hamas has come of age: it has grown from a freedom fighting movement to a social service organisation with political ambitions. Hamas is already running many schools, hospitals and a large number of other social service institutions that take care of widows and orphans and bring help to the destitute and needy.

The success of Hamas should be read as the judgement of people who
wanted a change from the old political system in the hope that change might bring peace, prosperity and stability. The hope that Hamas might succeed where Fatah had failed. The change is positive and constructive and should be taken in good faith.

Reacting to Hamas's success, the EU has said that 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Authority will not be released until Hamas renounces its armed struggle and recognises Israel's right to exist. Only western morality can attach strings to humanitarian aid, which is to be used to pay the salaries of Palestinian Authority employees and cannot be directed to any other end.

The demand by Israel, the US and other western countries that Hamas should renounce military resistance to occupation is premature and should be put on hold while peace is given a chance. Israel, the US and the EU must come forward and start dealing with the new government regardless of which party has been returned by the Palestinians. They must respect the voice of the people and show to the world that they care for peace in the Middle East.