Today in the Palestinian elections, Hamas won with an overwhelming majority. I think we today witnessed the end the to any likelihood of real peace in Israel. The possibility for moderation is now zero. This will lead an era where Israel will continue to build the wall and continue the process of withdrawal from the West Bank.

The acting Prime Minister of Israel had this to say:

If a [Palestinian] government should arise of which Hamas is a participant, the world and Israel will ignore it and render it irrelevant.

and in a statement

Israel will not negotiate with a Palestinian government, even if only part of it is an armed terrorist organization calling for Israel’s destruction, and in any case will continue to strenuously fight terrorism everywhere.

I think it would be well for the governments to realize that such words and rhetoric, can be inherently dangerous. Wars have begun that way.