One of the many tragedies of the Palestinian people is the way that their problems have contributed to the strength of those groups that will make their plight worse, not better. It’s difficult to read this story from the London Times without foreboding:

“A VISION of an Islamic society that bans mixed dancing and sternly disapproves of homosexuality has been given by Mahmoud Zahar, the most senior leader of Hamas in Gaza. After controversies when a Hamas-led council halted a dance festival and Islamist gunmen stopped a rap band performing in Gaza, Dr Zahar defended the enforcement of a strict interpretation of Islam.

“A man holds a woman by the hand and dances with her in front of everyone. Does that serve the national interest?”

Actually, Mahmoud, in your part of the world, more partying and less Party would be a very good thing indeed.