However, the situation, strangely enough, also offers the greatest opportunity for peace in our time -- ushering a new era of trust and goodwill between the Muslim and the Western world, even Israel -- that never existed before. The US is in the position to make this critical choice. Let us not fail the world.

One attempt at a courageous reconciliation now could essentially wipe out many decades of past rivalry and animosity. The temperature of the Muslim world would suddenly drop if it were seen that even Hamas is given a hand in order to help and honour the Palestinian people. The world would know that Israel is ready for peace, and the talk of democracy is real. Unfortunately, this very opportunity is being sabotaged by the wrong and reactionary Israeli-US policy to prevent Hamas from fulfilling the Palestinian mandate. The cost of this blunder will be incalculable.

After a long wait the Palestinians have been allowed to elect their representatives. If the West invalidates this verdict, it essentially would invalidate the nationhood and the dignity of the Palestinians. This would not fly well with a world, which is desperate for peace, and with a nation more resolute and defiant. The situation then can rapidly regress into a state completely out of control. Let us not play with fire.

As for Hamas, it was a different set of agenda and identity it had pursued as an absolutely desperate freedom fighter for its destitute nation. It is quite another set of agenda and identity it would have to follow in order to lead the Palestinian Authority. This distinction must be borne in mind in order to do any constructive work for peace in the future.