Thomas Friedman finds hope in the recent democratic elections held in Bahrain.

Think about the contrasting headlines made last week by the biggest Arab state and the smallest Arab state. From the biggest state, Egypt, came the news that its state TV planned to run a 41-part series during the month of Ramadan — when TV viewing is at its highest — about a Zionist conspiracy to control Arab lands. From the smallest state, Bahrain, came the news that it had successfully conducted the first democratic parliamentary election in the Arab gulf, to begin empowering Bahrainis to control their own land.

But it may not be time to jump on the hope train with Tom just yet. The Arab News reports that 10 of the 19 parliament positions in the election were won by Islamist parties.

The winners and potential winners include the heads of three Sunni political groups. Adel Adel Al-Muawda of Al-Asala and Salah Ali of the National Islamic Forum were elected in the first round, while Al-Shoura chief Abdul Rahman Abdul Salam seems assured of victory in the run-off. Seventeen other Islamists have a good chance of coming out on top in a runoff slated for Oct. 31. Most of them are well ahead of their nearest rivals.

The government has said it is not concerned about an Islamist victory. “We are all Muslim so I am not afraid of that,” said Bahrain’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman ibn Hamad Al-Khalifa.