You don't like the Palestinian government...? Arrest 'em...

[UPDATE AND ANOTHER BUMP!]

[UPDATE AND BUMP]

we preach democracy and then implicitly condone this kind of action on the part of israel...

Israel arrested one-third of the Hamas-led Palestinian cabinet on Thursday in what the Islamist group called a bid to topple its government, as the Israeli army prepared to expand a Gaza offensive to free an abducted soldier.

outrageous...

[UPDATE I]

(from juan cole...)

The ministers detained are members of a freely and democratically elected government. I can't imagine under what legal authority the Israelis have arrested them. But everyone in the Middle East can see exactly what "elections" and "democracy" amount to. Bush's promises have never seemed so hollow.

[UPDATE II]

from steve clemons at the washington note...)

Israel is demonstrating profound immaturity with its behavior, though I support the importance of negotiating and even pursuing its kidnapped soldier. However, despite its regional superpower status, Israel is showing that it tilts too easily towards responses far disproportionate to any sane or reasonable action. While Israel radicalizes Palestininans and many Arabs in the region with this behavior, it needs to know that it is eroding American support for its behavior and position.

Lines must be drawn -- and Israel is way over the line now.

agreed...

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