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Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/22863/hamas-elections-mistake
Why Allowing Hamas to Participate in a Palestinian Election Is a Mistake
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Dr. Fadel Ashour - a Palestinian psychiatrist, behavioral-science professor and political analyst - described to the Arabic-language Jusoor News the psychological, social and political damage caused by Hamas and its ideology, which is rooted in rejection of Israel's existence, armed struggle, and the establishment of an Islamic Palestinian state in its place. His message is: Gaza cannot be rebuilt merely by putting up new buildings, repairing roads, or providing humanitarian assistance. The Palestinians' entire mindset must be rebuilt. Ashour warns that for the past two decades, Gaza has experienced a process of social conditioning in which violence and death are universally acclaimed and celebrated. Palestinian society, he states, has been taught to associate victory with death rather than with construction and development. Ashour rejects the notion that Hamas should be treated simply as another political party. "They view the rest of society with a sense of superiority, as if they are the chosen ones and the rest are just commoners." The broad picture he presents is of an Islamist terrorist group that claims to exist for the Palestinian people but has instead become an instrument for controlling, exploiting, and indoctrinating them. The question is not whether Hamas will hand over some weapons. The question is whether Gaza can ever develop a fundamentally different political and social culture while Hamas's ideology remains embedded in its society and institutions. Ashour is warning the international community not to make the mistake of believing that Gaza's problem can be solved simply by reaching an agreement with Hamas's leaders. A society cannot simultaneously teach its children that martyrdom and violence are heroic and expect these same children to build peaceful institutions and a functioning political system. Allowing Hamas to retain a political and military role - particularly by including Hamas-affiliated political figures in future elections - would only perpetuate the problem.