Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), a Democratic candidate for president, blamed U.S. policies for the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. “The chaos and factional violence in Gaza that ultimately led to the Hamas military takeover of the Presidential Compound and the National Security Guard building demonstrates a failure of President Bush’s strategy in matters relating to Hamas,” Kucinich said in a statement over the weekend. “The humanitarian, economic and political boycott imposed on the elected Hamas government were meant to force Hamas to accept U.S. and Israeli conditions or alternatively to force it out of power. The boycott has accomplished neither goal and instead has created a severe humanitarian crisis that is now marred by political factionalism, violence, and unrest.” The United States led the international community in isolating Hamas because of its refusal to renounce terrorism or recognize Israel, and in backing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ relatively moderate Fatah Party. Kucinich, whose candidacy is considered a long shot, called on the United States to recognize the Hamas-Fatah coalition government that has now collapsed in the wake of the Gaza takeover.
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