Daniel Lubetzky

The Palestinian parliamentary elections in 2006 gave Hamas a plurality
in all districts except one.

The only place where Hamas was soundly defeated and gained not one
seat was Qalqiliya. What is remarkable about Qalqiliya is that it is
also the only area where Hamas had gained total control in the prior
municipal elections less than a year before.

According to two different polls, if elections were held again today
15% to 25% would vote for Hamas, underlining that wherever Hamas has
governed, it has provided the roots of its own demise.

The BIG problem is that this lesson is not lost on Hamas itself and
they are unlikely to accept new elections.

Like Bernard Lewis once wrote, Islamist parties believe in the axiom
of ‘one man, one vote, one time.’

They will probably have to face the destiny of the Taliban.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
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This last Friday, Gazans organized a protest against Hamas. They
called on people to pray outside the mosques.

The background to this is that Hamas has seized total control of the
mosques, banning any Imam who does not follow the party line, and
using the pulpit for their political and ideological propaganda.

Needless to say, the people are fed up about Hamas’s abuses. What is
remarkable is that this protest came from the people and from civil
society groups, not from political parties.

This is thus a potential milestone, when the fight is not just between
Fatah and Hamas, but now also between Hamas oppression and popular
disgust.

Hamas reacted with harshness, beating up people praying on the
streets, which will only further alienate the public.

Reporters were injured in an effort to intimidate the media from
sharing the news.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
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Who asks for the business card (or aims to establish a relationship)
tells you a lot about power dynamics.

It is easily understood that younger up-and-coming entrepreneurs will
try to link up with high-powered CEOs or that salespeople will aim to
connect with buyers.

But another subtle dynamic I keep noticing is that, in general,
Palestinians are far more interested in getting business cards of the
Israelis or international citizens they meet.

At our youth leadership summits between Israelis and Palestinians,
both sides are so surprised, motivated and energized to confirm first-
hand that they have a partner working for the same goal on the other
side. But it is the Palestinians that more frequently ask for the
business card.

This is understandable because for Palestinians, contact with some
Israeli can be a more likely life-line in the current circumstances
where they live.

When our OneVoice Gaza Executive Director was held up with four
computers for more than an hour at a checkpoint, he ended up calling
Adi Balderman who finally succeeded in intervening and helping
establish these were indeed for the organization and that Mowaffaq was
the real deal.

Jews and other minorities that have traditionally been persecuted also
have a greater instinct to establish links with the other,
particularly when the other has greater power or can control their
destiny.

Probably more so for children of Holocaust survivors. Besides the
importance of OneVoice building a network of moderates all over, I
sometimes find myself wondering in a stream of consciousness what
would happen if I was taken hostage when I am in Gaza or if I was
stuck somewhere between rival factions.

Would any of my ‘connections’ be able to help? While most likely they
would not, it is emotionally reassuring that they would try.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
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Many locals in Gaza are starting to demonstrate. The Hamas forces
have threatened the international and local media not to cover the
uprising. Tomorrow prayers were called by citizens fed up with Hamas
oppression. Media has finally started to ignore censure, emboldening
more. Tomorrow can be an important day in the grassroots struggle
against militant absolutism.

Sent from my iPhone – pardon typos
.