Bush: Hamas Must Alter Stance on Israel to Be 'Partner in Peace'

Election officials announced today that Hamas won 76 seats in the 132-seat parliament, giving it the right to form the next Palestinian government.

Hamas, a Palestinian Muslim movement that wants to establish an Islamic theocracy in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, earlier declared victory in the first parliamentary voting in a decade.

Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia of the long-dominant Fatah party resigned, along with the rest of his cabinet, after acknowledging the opposition party's victory.

Despite the problems that the election results pose for U.S. diplomacy, Bush said that "democracy can open up the world's eyes to reality by listening to people. And the election process is healthy for society, in my judgment."

He indicated that the outcome did not come as a big surprise.

"If there is corruption," he said, "I'm not surprised that people say, 'Let's get rid of corruption.' If government hadn't been responsive, I'm not the least bit surprised if people say, 'I want government to be responsive.'

"And so it was an interesting day yesterday . . . as we're watching liberty begin to spread across the Middle East."

Bush's stand received backing from Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), the Democratic challenger in the 2004 presidential election.

"Make no mistake, Hamas is a terrorist organization that has committed horrific acts of violence against Israelis," Kerry said in a statement. "Hamas as we know it must end if Hamas is ever going to become a legitimate partner for peace with Israel. To begin with, Hamas must recognize Israel's right to exist, disarm, and renounce violence in all forms."