In 2006, both the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority went to the polls. The contrast between the results of those two elections help illustrate why we, two years later, find ourselves in an even worse position than we did then and the likely result of today’s Israeli election.
In Israel, the election was preceded by the founding of Kadima. In act of political courage, Ariel Sharon split from the right-wing Likud partyt to create a new political force. Sharon was joined by politicians from both the Israeli right and left, including Labor elder statesman and now President Shimon Peres. The main purpose behind Kadima was peace: it sought to join the moderate right with the moderate left to create a credible negotiation partner in the conflict, committed to a genuine two-state solution.
In March 2006, the Israelis gave new hope to the Peace Process by returning Kadima to government.
Two months before that, however, the Palestinians gave the party list ‘Change and Reform’ a majority of the seats. ‘Change and Reform’, ironically, was the list of Hamas, terrorists who will never recognise Israel’s right to exist. So while the Israeli people voted for peace, the Palestinian election crowned terrorists.
The way the Palestinians voted to some extent can be excused on the basis of the hopeless situation they find themselves in, but it is beyond doubt that they voted the complete opposite of their own interest. Hamas can never negotiate with Israel. Partly because they are hell-bent on continuing a violent campaign against Israel, partly because Israel cannot negotiate with a party which do not recognise their right to exist. What is more, the Hamas constitution actually prohibits negotiation with Israel.
Israel tried moderation and found extremism on the other side. I hope Kadima win, but it is not hard to understand why there is a real possiblility that Likud will return to power today.
JDR
