It was the first time that the Palestinian people had the opportunity to decide who would be in power to form the Palestian Authority. Hamas won the elections, and according our own democratic principles we have to accept this fact. This doesn't mean however that the West has to feel happy with this result. Let's first have a look at the essence of some reactions before coming to a conclusion.

* Tony Blair (UK) said that the time had come for Hamas to turn its back on violence.
* The European Union said that it was reviewing hundreds of millions of euros in aid that it sends to the Palestinian Authority.
* Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary-General, said that any group wanting to take part in democratic politics should disarm.
* President Bush (US) said that Hamas could never be considered a partner in the Middle East peace process until it renounced violence and its commitment to the destruction of Israel.
* French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has expressed concern over the victory of HAMAS .
* Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, said that Hamas's victory was the worst possible result.
* Angela Merkel (German Chancellor) was the first foreign leader to visit the Palestinian territories since the elections but did not meet Hamas officials.
* Swedish Foreign Minister Laila Freivalds called on Hamas to “radically
change its politics, otherwise Sweden and the EU cannot cooperate with the incoming Palestinian government”.
* Belgium (Verhofstadt) said that the elections could be a turning point, when Hamas recognizes Israel and renounces violence.
* Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul warned the Hamas to adhere to a
continuation of the Middle East peace process.
* Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said "Hamas should be given a chance... "
* Iran (a state-run radio): said that the vote showed that Palestinians support resistance against Israel.
* Essam el-Aryan (Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood), said the Brotherhood was jubilant.
* Jihad-Daneshgai, a semi-governmental cultural body active in Iranian universities, congratulated Hamas, saying the victory "angers the arrogant leaders of the US and the occupiers of Jerusalem
* Russia’s special envoy to the Middle East, Alexander Kalugin: "We will judge the future government by its deeds. We are counting on the course chosen by Abbas continuing".

Let us now have a look at the "The Hamas Covenant" (You can read the complete text on the Internet or on my website).
* Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it…
* This Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), clarifies its picture, reveals its identity, outlines its stand, explains its aims, speaks about its hopes, and calls for its support, adoption and joining its ranks. Our struggle against the Jews is very great and very serious. It needs all sincere efforts. It is a step that inevitably should be followed by other steps. The Movement is but one squadron that should be supported by more and more squadrons from this vast Arab and Islamic world, until the enemy is vanquished and Allah's victory is realised.
* There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.
* In their Nazi treatment, the Jews made no exception for women or children.
Their policy of striking fear in the heart is meant for all...To counter these deeds, it is necessary that social mutual responsibility should prevail among the people. The enemy should be faced by the people as a single body which if one member of it should complain, the rest of the body would respond by
feeling the same pains.
* They were behind the French Revolution, the Communist revolution and most of the revolutions we heard and hear about, here and there. With their money they formed secret societies, such as Freemasons, Rotary Clubs, the Lions and others in different parts of the world for the purpose of sabotaging societies and achieving Zionist interests. .. They were behind World War I, when they were able to destroy the Islamic Caliphate, making financial gains and controlling resources. They obtained the Balfour Declaration, formed the League of Nations through which they could rule the world. They were behind World War II, through which they made huge financial gains by trading in armaments, and paved the way for the establishment of their state. It was they who instigated the replacement of the League of Nations with the United Nations and the Security Council to enable them to rule the world through them. There is no war going on anywhere, without having their finger in it.
* Under the wing of Islam, it is possible for the followers of the three religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - to coexist in peace and quiet with each other. Peace and quiet would not be possible except under the wing of Islam. Past and present history are the best witness to that.
* It is the duty of the followers of other religions to stop disputing the sovereignty of Islam in this region, because the day these followers should take over there will be nothing but carnage, displacement and terror.
* Leaving the circle of struggle with Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he who does that.

Conclusion:
On the one hand, the West requires that Hamas recognizes Israel, continues the "Peace Talks", disarms and renounces all violence. They should start building up a Democratic system.
On the other hand, the only reason for the existence of Hamas, is the annihilation of Israel by force. In the Hamas Covenant, there is nowhere a trace of negotiations or Peace Talks with Israel. There is no solution for the problem, when Hamas disarms and recognizes Israel, they renounce the very reason of their own existence and will lose the confidence of their followers and the support of most Middle Eastern countries.
I am almost sure that also Israel will refuse all negotiations with Hamas.
As Israel is a member of the free Western countries, the West must now stand firmly behind Israel. It must stop the money flow to Palestine and honour the principle "all for one and one for all."
http://www.westernfreedom.com

Robert Maegh is a Belgian engineer, born in Germany in 1945. He spent several years in Africa and the Middle East. "A Holy Terror" is his first novel and a sequel can soon be expected. http://www.westernfreedom.com