ARAB EDITORIAL: HAMAS DESTROYED HOPES FOR PALI STATE

NOW, IF ONLY THE E.U. AND THE U.S. WOULD AGREE WITH THIS ARAB EDITORIAL.

Congratulations Hamas - Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed (Asharq Alawsat-UK)
Hamas has buried the Palestinian cause and thrown the world's respect for the rights of Palestinians down the drain. Furthermore, it has polished Israel's image and thwarted any hopes for an independent Palestinian state. The Arab world will not accept the deposed prime minister [a reference to Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh] announcing his support of the killing, lawlessness, looting, burning and pursuing of fellow Palestinians from Fatah and the Palestinian Authority.

SEE ALSO: Two Failed States - Emanuele Ottolenghi
It now looks as though there will be a one-state solution after all - Israel, alongside two failed states, both Palestinian, and fighting each other. The persistent refusal of the Palestinian Authority, first under Arafat, then under Abbas, to disarm all militias and dismantle all terror networks yielded the outcome all predicted. Hamas' takeover in Gaza has created a small Islamic state on the shores of the Mediterranean, next door to Israel and to Egypt. Helped by Iran and Syria, Hamas has now opened a southern front in their war against Israel, but in the process, it has made Palestine as a state even less viable than before.

Now, Hamastan needs to conquer the West Bank to make itself the credible and legitimate champion of the Palestinian struggle. Meanwhile, Fatahland will try to regain its lost territory of Gaza before it can even begin to negotiate credibly with Israel. An endless war will further contribute to Palestine's demise. (Guardian-UK)