The Hamas victory is not just a little local difficulty.

The Hamas victory was the fifth case recently of militants' winning significant gains through elections.

The issue of which should come first - civil society and rule of law, or elections - was underscored by the Hamas victory.

All direct aid was suspended on 7 April 2006 as a result of the Hamas victory in parliamentary elections.

Israeli military officers said scores of Palestinian prisoners had been freed since the Hamas victory.

The Palestinians have chronic financial problems made even more severe by the Hamas victory.

Still, the Hamas victory injects uncertainty into the Israeli election.

"A Hamas victory gives the government wider representation," he said.

Nevertheless, a Hamas victory will make a land-for-peace deal much more difficult to realise.

The Hamas victory brings the group's support for armed attacks on Israel to the fore.