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Doubts about Hamas viability circulate

Although the group ran for parliament on a platform promising "reform and change," electoral victories in the parliament and in dozens of municipalities across the West Bank and Gaza for Hamas reflects more than just Palestinian Authority corruption, Fatah party infighting and frustration at being encircled by Israel`s separation barrier amid a moribund peace process.

It is important to remember that Palestinians elected Hamas knowing full well what its goals are vis-a-vis Israel and the peace process. Whether the election of Hamas represents real change for the Palestinian people or a speed bump on the road map to peace remains to be seen as Hamas forms a government amidst outside pressure to abandon suicide bombings and rejectionism against Israel and threats of the withholding of financial aid to the PA.

Hamas might think that it has gotten a breather thanks to the announcement this week of a European Union humanitarian aid package and talks in Moscow at the behest of Russian president Vladimir Putin, but unless real change is seen by Palestinians as well as by the outside world Hamas` mandate is anything but assured. So long as the government remains committed to unpeaceful goals, Palestinians are unlikely to find the peace and independence that they feel they deserve.