Elections in the PA

We HATE to admit it, but Abu Mazen had a fair point in his conversation with President Bush yesterday. Arguing against a ban on Hamas participation in the upcoming election, Abu Mazen said that prohibiting an organization with substantial support in the territories would make the election fraudulent in the eyes of the voters. It would look like bending to American and/or Israeli pressure and, as such, would increase support for Hamas at the expense of Abu Mazen. Administration officials, appeared to agree, saying the U.S.

We HATE to admit it, but Abu Mazen had a fair point in his conversation with President Bush yesterday. Arguing against a ban on Hamas participation in the upcoming election, Abu Mazen said that prohibiting an organization with substantial support in the territories would make the election fraudulent in the eyes of the voters. It would look like bending to American and/or Israeli pressure and, as such, would increase support for Hamas at the expense of Abu Mazen. Administration officials, appeared to agree, saying the U.S. wouldn’t “write election laws for the Palestinians.” Fair as far as it goes, but of course it doesn’t go far enough.

President Bush in the Rose Garden commended former World Bank President James Wolfensohn’s “broad effort to generate economic and financial support from the international community … he’s doing a good job.” Mr. Wolfensohn, remember, is the man who, using his own and other people’s money, bought $14 million worth of Israeli greenhouses that generated tens of millions of dollars in profits and provided jobs for nearly 12,000 Palestinian workers at their peak. Within 24 hours of the disengagement, Mr. Wolfensohn watched his investment in the Palestinian future wrecked by Palestinians. We find it ironic that he was made to sit through the President’s promise of more and better aid. Ironic too was Mr. Bush’s cheery thank you to Lt. Gen. William Ward, senior U.S. security coordinator in the PA. “I appreciate your service, General Ward. Thank you for being here, and thank you for all your hard work to help the Palestinian security forces at a critical time. Job well done.” Gen. Ward, remember, is the man who told Congress last month that the PA security forces had met NONE of his requirements, even those that would have resulted in additional money.

What if we combine the political and economic threads? Instead of promising bigger and better American economic and security support regardless of Palestinian behavior, what if the U.S. simply informs Abu Mazen and the Palestinian people that in the future, there will be consequences for their choices?

Hamas will be on the January ballot; neither the U.S. nor Israel can prevent it. But the people should understand – and the U.S. should use its ability to make it understood – that we will not deal with a Hamas government, nor Hamas officials in a Fatah government. We will not support Ministries with Hamas Ministers. We will not support programs in cities with Hamas mayors or city councils. We will not train PA security forces that have Hamas members – or members of any armed force loyal to any except the central authority, and only that if the central authority has no Hamas members in it.

Unfair? No. Hamas may be acceptable to parts of the Palestinian public, which is surely because Fatah has proven itself contemptible, but it is unacceptable to United States. Our government is under no obligation to support governments with violent, racist officials. Racist parties were banned in Europe after WWII and the American Nazi Party cannot run candidates in American elections. There is a big difference between writing Palestinian election rules and agreeing in advance to support with American political and financial aid any rotten government the people elect.