Hamas Wins

Well this is certainly a surprise, though I suppose it shouldn't be, since Fatah brought nothing but ruin to the Palestinian people. Part of that was Hamas's fault, of course, but that's to be expected. Hamas has followed the age-old strategy of firebreathers: Stir up trouble, then use the trouble you've started to justify your own violent, uncompromising position. (Ariel Sharon was a master of the tactic himself.) Still, this may be for the best. Either Hamas becomes a more moderate and pragmatic political force, or it doesn't. If it doesn't, there isn't much that Hamas can really do with its new position. They may be no better than Nazis, but these Nazis don't have Germany, they just have the poverty-stricken statelet of Palestine to use in pursuit of their fantasies of conquest.

Update: I'll note that Hamas has little incentive to become "more moderate or pragmatic" if no one recognizes the new government. It's possible that Hamas could end its terror campaign to curry favor with the Israelis, but highly unlikely considering that Abbas's moderation got him next to nothing in return. Oh well. Israelis have never missed an opportunity to be bullheaded and stupid before; no reason for them to change strategies now.