Thursday News

by Cliopatria

Hamas wins. It's hard to see how this result will not benefit Netanyahu in the Israeli elections.

Contrasting views on how the internet will affect the Islamic world: Joseph Braude cautions against complacency; Stephen Schwartz sees blogging as undermining the Saudi leadership. I'm inclined to agree more with Braude.

EphBlog had a winter study on-line seminar analyzing Williams'"diversity" initiative; I have a concluding post. The tip-off: the sole outside consultant on"faculty issues" for the initiative described Ward Churchill as"her hire" and recommended that Williams adopt the same process that led to Churchill's hiring, tenuring, and promotion. How reassuring.

Interesting take on history and the Hillary Clinton '08 bid: will the Alito nomination help trigger another"year of the woman" politically? It's not impossible.

Donald Hall's three-part collegiality posting at IHE concludes, though with recommendations far less controversial than his first two essays.

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Jonathan Dresner - 1/26/2006

Nicely put, Oscar. If you're going to have "free elections" you have to contend with the fact that it's an environment in which moderates (sort of) aren't the most popular party...

It will be interesting to see if the elected arm of Hamas have a relationship to the rest of the movement akin to the Sinn Fein-IRA connection...

Oscar Chamberlain - 1/26/2006

I understand the arguments that had been made against allowing Hamas the legitiacy of elected office. However, one has to deal with this: within Palestinian society, Hamas is known for integrity. Within their societies, Hamas is often a better source of medical and social aid than the government. That is how they have gained such a following.

Allowing Hamas into the elective process tends to legitimize their use of violence. But keeping them out would deligitimize the elections from the standpoint of Palestinians. I think the latter is the greater evil, though I can certainly understand if many Israelis disagree.