When Palestinians voted Hamas to power two years back, no less a person than the former President of United States of America, Mr. Jimmy Carter hailed the electoral process as free and fair. The West, which proclaims itself as the cradle and harbinger of democracy, did never recognise the government of Hamas simply because it did not serve its interests. Can there be any bigger example of hypocrisy than this?
The chaotic situation prevailing in the Middle East due to the infighting between Al-Fatah and Hamas is due to the double standards of the West which has let the democratically elected Hamas government to starve, by blocking the funds for months on end. As the proverbial last straw on the back of the camel, the West and the Jewish lobby could succeed to drive deep-rooted wedge between Al-Fatah and Hamas.
Though Mr. Bush and his buddies might have had the last laugh to see the current infighting between the two Palestinian groups, there is no gainsaying that the state of affairs could snowball to a point of no return. But then again, the West and Israel would pose, as if, they are making peace with Fatah-dominated West Bank and drive the Hamas-controlled Gaza to misery. They may even orchestrate a bloodbath between the two rival Palestinian factions. They may even suggest to a “two-statelet solution” to the Palestinian nationhood. All in the name of Democracy!
Syed Sultan Mohiddin
Kadapa, A.P.