One of the paradoxical results of America’s almost messianic belief in elections as a panacea for all the ills of the Middle East is that Hamas – the winner of democratic elections – has gained a degree of legitimacy that it never had before. On the other hand, Hamas’s history and current behavior clearly indicate that it regards elections as merely a political tool, and that it is devoid of any commitment to the norms and values underlying democracy.
但是仅用言辞无法改变当前的危机。美国几乎救世主般地认为选举是消除中东一切弊病的灵丹妙药。但结果荒谬的是，哈马斯这个民主选举制的赢家得到了一定程度的、前所未有的合法性。另一方面，哈马斯过去和现在的行为已清楚地表明它只是将选举当作政治工具，而没有致力于任何民主规范和价值。