Hamas is consistently called a terrorist organization while Israeli actions funded by the US, representing far more and far worse violent "terrorist" activities go virtually unmentioned - and I have listened to and read many stories on this matter.

It is never discussed why it is that many people around the world view Israel's colonial project since fall of 1947 - ethnic cleansing followed by apartheid with subsequent denial of fundamental rights including the right of return - as fundamentally illegitimate. A distinction is never made between questioning the existence of "apartheid Israel" and "Israel"; the question of the validity of a Jewish-priviledge state is never raised.

Virtually the whole world knows that the Right of Return if one of the key issues if not THE key issue in the conflict. It is rarely mentioned, yet it is key to understanding why Israel is seen as an illegitimately formed state.

Listening to the media, you might almost think that apartheid Israel was a "partner in peace" and that they have negotiated for a fair "two State solution". It's just outrageous and hard to listen to. It is almost never discussed (I sound like Noam Chomsky here!) the fatal shortcoming of the proposals that Israel has offered in terms of Jerusalem, Right of Return and access to religous sites.

The roadmap "to peace" is always talked about as if it is a fair process for Palestinians (omits right of Return except as a footnote) Where is the roadmap "to justice" ? .. and one could go on and on.

Even the BBC does not discuss these issues significantly (They had one Egyption commentator who did mention that Israel's offers for peace have not been serious and that Israel has taken actions contrary to what it claims to want even in its own limited offers to Palestinians).

Instead of historically informed rational discussion, we get intellectually pathetic buzz phrases that just get repeated ad nauseum.

Well folks,... we have our work cut out for us... the silver lining though is that Hamas victory does provide great opportunity to educate people about Palestine through our literature and talking to people - explaining to them the myths perpetrated by the media.

Our divestment work and Right of Return Petition and Tri-Sister City Project take on even greater significance. It is critical that we show that people in the US support all human rights for Palestinians and that we will not support the apartheid Israel project.