Final results Friday showed the Fatah movement of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas making an unexpectedly strong showing against key rival Hamas in local elections in dozens of West Bank towns and villages, with 54 percent of the vote compared to Hamas' 26%.
Though the elections were mostly about local issues such as roads and water, Fatah's showing was in line with a recent rise in support for the party following Israel's pullout from the Gaza Strip.
That's good news, I guess, if you see Fatah as a relatively moderate faction that's serious about reining in terror, improving the social and economic conditions of its people and trying to find a way to make peace with Israel. If you understand that they're mostly Arafat's heirs, talking the right talk out of one side of their mouths while encouraging terrorism with the other, then not so much.
And then there's that line about a recent rise in support following Israel's pullout from Gaza. Really? Especially considering today's elections were, you know, not in Gaza, and, well, I'm not seeing the evidence. Not that it's going to matter all that much because Hamas doesn't like losing elections.
Faced with early results showing a worse-than-expected outcome, the Hamas complained that many of its candidates were detained by Israeli troops before Thursday's election.
Armed groups have threatened revenge, and an informal seven-month-old truce could collapse as a result of the escalation.
But then there's this:
Hundreds of Palestinian children marched Friday to mark five years of violent conflict with Israel, but in a break with custom the youngsters and their adult minders only waved flags, not guns.
Now this is definitely a step in the right direction. Celebrating the murder of a thousand Israelis is definitely better when done with flags rather than guns. It's a small step but possibly an important one. And it looks good on their resumé. (Update: never mind...)
Shabbat Shalom.
