This isn't exactly a surprise. If Hamas was smart, they would let the elections proceed so the PLO can move on to the larger and more immediate issues, like restarting negotiations with Israel. And I don't expect the Palestinians to get a lot from Netanyahu if there were new negotiations, but the fact is that the longer the PLO and Hamas keep the political situation in Palestine so fragmented (and the rule of Hamas and Fath/Abbas illegitimate) the more they allow settlements to expand in the West Bank and threaten any possibility of a future state. I don't know who would win if elections were held soon. Last I saw, Fayyad's approval rating was up to around 15% (and he does have the advantage of US support.)
It's just a discouraging thing to watch. I've said this to a few people lately, and so I'll say it here: I think the time where there was a possibility for a Palestinian state may have already passed. The settlers can create a big enough political backlash against any Israeli administration, or they will continue "retaliating" against neighboring Palestinians when the Israeli government limits the settlements. (And the settlers calling their attacks on Palestinians a "price tag" for the limiting of settlements is remarkably hateful) I won't totally lose faith though. I just think anything short of '67 borders won't satisfy the Palestinians, and I don't think Israel would ever be open to such a thing. Who knows. I would love to be proven wrong.
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