“Democracy” Sowing Seeds of Crisis

This week's sweeping victory by Hamas in the Palestinian elections forces us all to confront the reality of democracy. Do we respect the will of a people, or do we add to their cynicism about democracy as a system tolerated only if it serves the interests of the U.S. and its allies?

We hope the West has learned from its Algerian folly. It is time Western governments took a deep breath and resisted the temptation to act hastily and sow the seeds of another crisis by rejecting the will of the Palestinian people.

Tarek Fatah, Jehad Aliweiwi, “The reality of democracy,” Toronto Star, 1/30/06.