Hamas takes charge

Gaza

The Palestinian parliament this week approved a Hamas government that promptly vowed to keep up the fight against Israel. "We were born from the womb of resistance," said incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. "We will protect resistance, and the arm of resistance will not be touched." In a similar vein, incoming Information Minister Youssef Rizka addressed a cheering crowd in Gaza, saying, "We cannot recognize Israel. The land of Palestine is ours and not for the Jews." An Israeli spokesman said that the "extremist" remarks should "dissolve any possible illusion that might exist as to the true character of this new Palestinian leadership." The E.U. and the U.S. have refused to fund the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas renounces violence against Israel.