THE PALESTINIAN SUPPORT FOR SHARIA

Barry Rubin at the Gloria Center writes about recent findings telling that the palestinians want an Islamic government system. One of the most telling parts says that:

Asked what government system they preferred in future, about 40 percent said they want an Islamic caliphate. In addition, 24 percent seek a system like those in Arab countries, and only 12 percent prefer one like that in European countries.

While defining what an "Arab system" means is ambiguous, it is reasonable to presume that means an Arab nationalist dictatorship since at this moment virtually no Arab country is a democracy.

I wonder if there's a good word for the opposite of nationalism, because I don't like to think nationalism is the best way to describe those who would prefer autocracy over freedom. Also worth noting is that in educational indoctrinational textbooks used for palestinian children, there's no mention of many of the important sites in Israel.

On the bright side, however, a recent survey by the Wash. Post (also via One Jerusalem) has found that Arabs in Jerusalem want to be Israeli citizen, and not live under Fatah's dictations.