Because this worked really well in Cuba

Continuing our support for democracy in all its forms, as long as it results in leaders that we like, apparently US officials and Israelis are discussing ways to destabilize the new Palestinian leadership.

The intention is to starve the Palestinian Authority of money and international connections to the point where, some months from now, its president, Mahmoud Abbas, is compelled to call a new election. The hope is that Palestinians will be so unhappy with life under Hamas that they will return to office a reformed and chastened Fatah movement.

Does this seem likely to result in a happy and peace-making Hamas, or to fuel their self-righteous opposition of everything Israeli and American? How's that Iraq gig working out?

(via Booknotes)