Mr Bear, you are far more willing to give the benedit of the doubt in your comment that it was a protest vote than I am. Up until now I had a lot of sympathy for the Palestinian-Israel predicament, but time and again, the actions of both sides, but particularly the Palestinians have given me cause for doubt. Voting in a party whose defining policy is the complete annihaliation of another State beggars disbelief. I almost get the impression that they want to be at war with eachother....

And on a less inflamatory note, I don't see why Hamas is looking to form a coalition when they have got a very comfortable majority. Seems unnecessary to me.
Kiwi in Zurich | 27.01.06 - 9:49 am | #

What cut of pork do Jews *really* not like?

Ham-ass!
Charlie Tan | Homepage | 29.01.06 - 9:00 am | #

Oh, by the way bear, (and this comment is somewhat irrelevant to the post)

I wouldn't bother reading the David Lange memoir. It's an unsavory reminder of why we should not trust old people to tell us what really happened. As you know, I've studied Lange's stint as PM up close, and there are many creative truths in his last work, not to mention quite a few flat-out whoppers. The book is in my office, so I can't pick through them here. Suffice it to say, how leaders construct themselves 20 years after they leave office is nowhere near as interesting as how they do so shortly afterwards. For that reason, I recommend his 'nuclear free, the new zealand way.' It's still caqn't really be taken as an accurate retelling of events, but it is laugh-out-loud funny in places, especially the bits that concern the muddle-through approach of American diplomacy.

Just thought I'd let you know. Anyway, as you are in Germany and it is next on your list, chances are you probably have it anyway. Oh well.
Charlie Tan | Homepage | 29.01.06 - 9:17 am | #