Hamas won an election in 2006 Bruce. It wasn't a coup d'etat. Hamas was NOT democratically elected to the executive branch. It won a plurality in the legislative branch. About a year after the election, Hamas and Fatah reached a power-sharing unity government under the Mecca Agreement (brokered by the Saudis). Then in June of 2007 Hamas perpetrated a violent coup (throwing Fatah officials off roof-tops) and illegally seized all power. Only about 20% of the PA population supported this military takeover.
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