Like people all over the world, and especially our sisters and brothers in the Middle East, I have followed the Palestinian election with intense interest and great hope that the results would lead toward a secure, just and prosperous peace for the Palestinian and Israeli people.

Both people have suffered far too long. Both people, if we believe the results of public opinion polls over the past several years, yearn for peace and are prepared to see their governments reach a peace accord.

So what do I make of the emerging results this election that would remove the Fatah party from power and replace it with Hamas?

To be honest with you, I don’t know.

I would like to continue hoping for the best. Hamas has won an obviously strong following among the Palestinians. Some attribute this following to Hamas’ success in providing social services for the people; others say it is a reaction to Fatah’s corruption and ineffectuality. Both of these motivations to support Hamas seem positive.

And yet it is easy to be seized by despair. Hamas has a deep history of horrible violence against innocent civilians and continues to avow the destruction of Israel, not a starting point for peace. And there are concerns that they may attempt to create a Palestinian society governed by an extreme, conservative practice of Islam. Many in the international community, including in the Israeli government, want nothing to do with Hamas.