A lot of eyes are fixed on Qalqilya, where the radical Islamic group Hamas won every seat on the city council five months ago. It was a major shock for Fatah, the dominant faction in the Palestinian Authority, and is emerging as a test case of Hamas's foray into electoral politics.

Hamas, which advocates [and actually kills civilians, both Israelis and Palestinian Arabs--D.A.] Israel's destruction and is regarded by Israel and the United States as a terrorist group, is fielding candidates in the Palestinian local and parliamentary elections. Here in Qalqilya, its rule has already set off a fair amount of grumbling that the group is trying to impose a strict Islamist morality.

Yes, Mr. Erlanger, but are the trains running on time?

Actually, there are interesting similarities between pre-Mussolini Italy and the PA; between Mussolini himself and Hamas:

In the early 20th century, before Benito Mussolini and his fascist regime came to power. Italy was in a terrible state. The government was corrupt, there were back door deals taking place and there was wide spread violence. The government was constantly using brute force to silence those who opposed, many were also thrown in jail for advocating a change in the government. Among these men were Mussolini's father who during Benito early years instilled the ideas of socialism and a socialist government. During Benito's upbringing his father was thrown in jail a number of times for urging the over throw of the current Italian government. Times were tough and people had to struggle to fed themselves and their family. The Mussolini's were poor as were many others in Italy at the time.

Then comes the part we all know about:

The Italy that was once falling apart was now back up on its feet. Mussolini was a dictator of the people. He built roads, harnessed rivers, increased production and ran the trains on time. The standard of living Italy was increasing and the people were loving him. He was someone the people could relate to he was a success story. From poverty to ruling the country and improving it on the way.

A dictator of the people? Not a freedom fighter??

We also know how Mussolini ended up:

After Italy was humiliated, Mussolini was captured by his own people who once loved him and he was killed. [the jury is still out on this comparison]

Oh and about those trains:

Contrary to the popular myth featured in this minseries Mussolini did not make the trains on time. Most of the repair work to the Italian railway system were done before Mussolini and his fascists came into power in 1922. Mussolini was just disingenuous in taking credit for those changes.

We will have to wait and see if the media is as generous in giving Hamas credit for building as it is reticent in ascribing responsibility to it for murder.

cross posted at Daled Amos