By Toufic Barakeh, http://sayitonline.net

Published: 05 July 2007

London: As a Palestinian British, like most Moslem community in general and Palestinians in particular, I was immensely rejoiced and relieved at the release of the BBC’s correspondent, Alan Johnston. This had about coincided with another source of cheer. The terrorist attacks that have failed; thanks to efficient handling by the police and other circumstances that mitigated a series of disastrous acts of terror.  The measured reaction of the government; avoiding to antagonise a whole community, by holding its peaceful and law abiding majority responsible for the mad activities of a small number of crazy and brainwashed individuals, was also a source of relief.

Yet, Hamas, the Palestinian party who won the legislative election, is to be accredited for the happy ending of Mr. Johnson’s ordeal. They are a major political party that aims for freedom and independence of their country. The media here is subsiding the truth by constantly referring to them as Islamic militant group. Islamic, indeed they are. Militant could translate to aggressive and offensive. They are not. Resistance movement, they are. They deserve to be encouraged and their gestures of goodwill be reciprocated. They won a peaceful election. But the Fatah barons in Ram Allah (not the whole Fatah movement), supported by the US, Europe and the international powers at large, wont allow them rule. This had led to chaos and mafia style rule in the streets of Gaza. Hamas’s patience eventually ran out and decided to forcefully demonstrate their authority.

We are not suggesting that that the international community should support Hamas against Fatah. They should encourage reconciliation instead. We wish to see two main political parties, Fatah and Hamas alternating power and authority, in Palestine. This would contribute more to bring peace to the region. Democracy should prevail.

We conclude by referring to Alan Johnston words on his release: 'You have to have been a prisoner to know how good freedom is'. In this context one would naturally remember more than ten thousand Palestinian prisoners in Israel. Some have lost their freedom for the last 25 years!

 Alan Johnston and all contributors that ended his ordeal, come forward. Your fellow good freedom lovers need you!

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