Word: bireh
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...election results. Hamas won on not only its political agenda but also its social and welfare programs. It is counterproductive and unrealistic for the U.S. not to continue financial assistance to the Palestinians. Hamas members like Omar Hamayel, the new, hardworking mayor of the West Bank town of al-Bireh, will bring energy and honesty to the job of governing the Palestinians. Wouldn't the Bush Administration want to see its aid spent on education, health and other sensible human issues rather than have it end up in the hands of corrupt leaders? Toufic H. Barakeh Surbiton, England...
...election results. Hamas won on not only its political agenda but also its social and welfare programs. It is counterproductive and unrealistic for the U.S. not to continue financial assistance to the Palestinians. Hamas members like Omar Hamayel, the new, hardworking mayor of the West Bank town of al-Bireh, will bring energy and honesty to the job of governing the Palestinians. Wouldn't the Bush Administration want to see its aid spent on education, health and other sensible human issues rather than have it end up in the hands of corrupt leaders? Toufic H. Barakeh Surbiton, England...
None of which alters the fact that Hamas, as a party, remains committed to Israel's destruction. But in localities like al-Bireh, Hamas officials are focusing on winning hearts and minds by doing the small stuff. "One hand is resisting, the other is building," says Abu Tir, whose full beard is stained orange with henna in the style thought to be favored by the Prophet Muhammad. "This is what the Koran tells us, and this is the principle we will adhere...
This combination of tough talk and problem solving appeals to voters like Haytham Hammad, 22, a corporal in the Palestinian security forces. "Fatah has not achieved anything for me," he says over coffee in an al-Bireh café. "Hamas is capable of taking back the rights of the Palestinian people--daily rights like a good job, clean water." "Fatah has forgotten even their own mothers," says Abu Tayseer, a cake seller at the next table. "The party is nothing but a crowd of blackmailers." Now the blackmailers are in opposition, and it's up to Hamas to fulfill Palestinians' hopes...
...towns like al-Bireh, Hamas has built popular support by providing a disciplined alternative to Fatah, which is seen by many Palestinians as corrupt, inefficient and unable to run a garbage collection service, let alone negotiate with Israel. Hamas has long run its own medical clinics, schools and soup kitchens for the poor-mostly in the Gaza Strip, its stronghold. In last year's local elections, Palestinian voters gravitated toward Hamas because of its reputation for having "members with a clean record," as Mayor Hamayel puts it, in a reference to Fatah's many corruption-tainted officials. Residents of towns...