Tel Aviv's frustration is understandable, but Bush's position on Hamas' victory sounds mindlessly rigid at this point, not quite befitting the role of a peace broker that the US has prided itself on assuming from time to time. Bush wants Hamas to declare its recognition of Israel along with a renunciation of violence. It has been called upon to disarm too. Hamas' position on violence has been that being under the occupation of Israel they needed to fight in self-defence. What is there to disarm, they argue, against the bulldozers and F16s of the Israelis.

We believe rhetoric must take a back seat now before the election results. These have given Hamas a democratic and legitimate right to speak for the Palestinian people. There are two important points to note: first, the election has been free and fair by international standards which makes it imperative for the West and Israel to accept the results and make full use of it by taking the wider Palestinian public opinion on board for a renewed peace overture. Secondly, the very fact that Hamas participated in the election should be taken as a proof of its peaceable, positive intentions.

After the victory, Hamas has offered to work with Fatah in a coalition, even though it has a majority to form government by itself. Content with popular support behind it, Hamas is expected to behave responsibly tuning into the international sensibilities.