Author: Khalil Shikaki | Journal of Democracy

Khalil Shikaki is director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah. His latest publication is “Willing to Compromise: Palestinian Public Opinion and the Peace Process,” published by the U.S. Institute of Peace as a special report in January 2006.

July 2006, Volume 17, Issue 3

The Palestinian Elections: Sweeping Victory, Uncertain Mandate

Khalil Shikaki

By giving Hamas a parliamentary majority, Palestinian voters were neither endorsing extremism nor rejecting the peace process. Other Palestinian institutions have the potential to restrain Hamas, but there is a risk that it will turn to Iran or Syria for help.