Hamas

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Hamas or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement"; the Arabic acronym means "zeal") is a Palestinian Sunni organization that currently (since January 2006) forms the majority party of the Palestinian National Authority.[1]

Created in 1987 CE (1407 AH) by Shaikh Ahmed Yassin of the Gaza wing of the Muslim Brotherhood at the beginning of the First Intifada,

Contents

[edit] Hamas Democratic Victory 2006

Hamas Democratic Results.gif

GazaElectionResults2006Map.gif

At the invitation of the CEC, NDI, in partnership with The Carter Center, organized an 84- member delegation to monitor the January 25 PLC elections. The delegation was led by former United States President Jimmy Carter, former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt, former Albanian President, Rexhep Meidani, and former Spanish Foreign Minister, Ana Palacio. It included elected officials, electoral and human rights experts, regional specialists, and political and civic leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

The conclusion of he CEC and NDI was that the elections where free and fair, and any shortcomings had no impact on the final result, and that the result represented the will of the people

A comprehensive report on the elections can be found here [2]

1996 ELECTION 2006 ELECTIONS
1) Fatah: 55 seats 1) Hamas - 76 seats
2) Independent Fatah: 7 seats 2) Fatah - 43 seats
3) Independent Islamists: 4 3) PFLP - 3 seats
4) Independent Christians: 3 4) Badil - 2 seats
5) Independents: 15 seats 5) Independent Palestine - 2
6) Samaritans: 1 seat 6) Third Way - 2 seats
7) Others: 1 seat 7) Independent/other - 4
8): Vacant: 2 seats

As seen from the Central Election Commission - Palestine results Map, Hamas secured an overwhelming majority in Gaza and the West Bank

[edit] Fatah Response to Hamas Democratic Victory

Jimmy Carter reflection on the results

   
Hamas

On election day, Rosalynn and I visited 25 polling sites, in East Jerusalem and its outskirts, Hebron, Ramallah, and Jericho. It seemed obvious to us and other observers that the election was orderly and peaceful and that there was a clear preference for Hamas candidates even in historically strong Fatah communities. Even so, we were all surprised at the enormity of the Hamas victory.


They won such a clear majority of parliamentary seats (76 of 132 members) that the Fatah government immediately announced their resignation.


I decided to remain for an extra day to assess the situation and to discuss the future with key leaders. I went to Ramallah and found President Abbas willing to remain as president during the three years remaining in his term but in a quandary about how to deal with the Hamas victory, the formation of a new government, the near bankruptcy of his government, and uncertainty about Israeli policies. He was justifiably proud of the honest, fair, and safe election process. Hamas leaders had expressed their desire to form a unity government with Fatah and the smaller independent parties, but his intention was not to cooperate with them. I urged him to reconsider.[3]

   
Hamas

[edit] US Response to Hamas Democratic Victory

The WhiteHouse's response to Hamas overwhelming democratic victory in Gaza and the West Bank was to deligitimize Hamas. Mrs Clinton has long taken a hard line against Hamas, describing them as a terrorist organisation whose administration in Gaza cannot be recognised until it renounces violence and recognises Israel’s right to exist. America designated Hamas as a terrorist organisation [4] and cujuled its allies to also classify Hamas as a terrorist organisation.Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization by Australia,[5] Canada,[6][7] the United Kingdom,[8] the European Union,[9] Israel, and the United States,[10] and is banned in Jordan.[11] Noam Chomsky describes The US's response as a reaction to Palestinans voting "the Wrong Way". There has been no similar calls for the US to classify the various Israel governments as terrorist organisations until they recognize Palestine's right to exist as a sovereign independent nation, and renounce violence.

[edit] Israels Response to Hamas Democratic Victory

Israel responded in a similar fashion, refusing to recognize or engage with Hamas until it recognized Israel and renounced violence.

[edit] Arrest of Hamas Elected Politicians

On the 29th June, shortly after Hamas won an overwhelming democratic election victory. Israel arrested 64 members of the newly elected government.[12] They where imprisoned for nearly 3 -4 years [13]


[edit] Israeli Project to Deligitimize Hamas

'The Israel Project', a US media advocacy group, has produced a revised training manual to help the worldwide Zionist movement win the propaganda war

   
Hamas
 Clearly differentiate between the Palestinian people and Hamas. There is an immediate and clear distinction between the empathy Americans feel for the Palestinians and the scorn they direct at Palestinian leadership. Hamas is a terrorist organization – Americans get that already. But if it sounds like you are attacking the Palestinian people (even though they elected Hamas) rather than their leadership, you will lose public support. Right now, many Americans sympathize with the plight of the Palestinians, and that sympathy will increase if you fail to differentiate the people from their leaders.[14]
   
Hamas

“Americans fundamentally believe that a democracy has a right to protect its people and its borders. And while Americans don’t want to increase foreign aid in a time of significant budgetary deficits and painful spending cuts, there is one and only one argument that will work for Israel (in four easy steps):

1) As a democracy, Israel has the right and the responsibility to defend its borders and protect its people.

2) Terrorist groups, including Iran-backed Hezbollah and Hamas, continue to pose a direct threat to Israeli security and have repeatedly taken innocent Israeli lives.

3) Israel is America’s one and only true ally in the region. In these particularly unstable and dangerous times, Israel should not be forced to go it alone.

4) With America’s financial assistance, Israel can defend its borders, protect its people, and provide invaluable assistance to the American effort against the war against terrorism.”[15]

[edit] Israeli Extra Judicial Killings of Hamas Members

[edit] Name

Hamas is an acronym of the Arabic phrase حركة المقاومة الاسلامية, or Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya or "Islamic Resistance Movement". The acronym is also the Arabic word for "zeal".

[edit] Military Wing of Hamas

The military wing of Hamas, formed in 1992, is known as the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades to commemorate Sheikh Izz ad-Din al-Qassam, the father of modern Arab resistance, killed by the British in 1935.

[edit] Beliefs

Founded in 1987, Hamas was the Gaza Strip branch of the Pan-Arab (Sunni) Muslim Brotherhood movement founded in Egypt. Hamas is opposed to the existence of Israel and has denounced the 1993 Oslo Accords, the foundation of the failed peace process, as a "betrayal of God's will". But in 2004 Hamas offered a 10-year truce, or hudna, in exchange for several conditions including a complete withdrawal from Israeli-occupied territories (see below).

Hamas regards the territory of the present-day State of Israel — as well as the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — as an inalienable Islamic waqf or religious bequest, which can never be surrendered to non-Muslims. It asserts that struggle (jihad) to regain control of the land from Israel is the religious duty of every Muslim (fard `ain). Hamas does not recognize Israel as a sovereign state, unlike the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) which has recognized it since 1988, and calls it the "Zionist entity", a common hostile term in Arab political rhetoric. Its charter calls for an end to Israel. During the election campaign, Hamas did not mention its call for the destruction of Israel in its electoral manifesto.[16] But several Hamas candidates insist that the charter is still in force and often called for Israel to be "wiped off the map" in campaign speeches. On January 25th, 2006, after winning the Palestinian elections, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar gave an interview to Al-Manar TV denouncing foreign demands that Hamas recognize Israel's right to exist.[17] After the establishment of Hamas government, Dr Al-Zahar stated his "dreams of hanging a huge map of the world on the wall at my Gaza home which does not show Israel on it...I hope that our dream to have our independent state on all historic Palestine (including Israel). This dream will become real one day. I'm certain of this because there is no place for the state of Israel on this land". He also "didn't rule out the possibility of having Jews, Muslims and Christians living under the sovereignty of an Islamic state, adding that the Palestinians never hated the Jews and that only the Israeli occupation was their enemy".[18]

Hamas's charter calls for the eventual creation of an Islamic Republic in place of Israel.[19] Hamas sees this view as an Islamic religious duty and prophesy which comes directly from Hadith. Although it has not set a specific date, Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, has mentioned the year 2027 as the possible date for destruction of Israel.[20] The group has not issued a clear statement about how it would deal with the current population of Israel, should it succeed in overthrowing Israeli and secular Palestinian government. Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi, one of its co-founders, stated that the movement's goal is "to remove Israel from the map".[21] However, on February 13, 2005, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal declared that Hamas would stop armed struggle against Israel if Israel recognized the 1967 borders, withdrew from all Palestinian territories and accept the demand for Palestinian "Right of Return" (see below).

According to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Hamas views the Arab-Israeli conflict as "a religious struggle between Islam and Judaism that can only be resolved by the destruction of the State of Israel".[22] Hamas uses both political activities and violence to pursue its goal of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in place of Israel and the secular Palestinian Authority. Israeli military operations during the al-Aqsa Intifada in 2002 put pressure on Hamas in the West Bank following several bombings in Israel for which Hamas claimed responsibility. Hamas has also engaged in peaceful political activities, including running candidates in West Bank Chamber of commerce elections.

During the election campaign the organisation toned down criticism of Israel in its election manifesto, stating only that it was prepared to use "armed resistance to end the occupation".[23]

[edit] The Covenant of Hamas

The 1988 Hamas Covenant (or Charter) states that the organization's goal is to "raise the banner of God over every inch of Palestine," in order to establish an Islamic Republic.

   
Hamas

Senior British diplomat and former British ambassador to the UN Sir Jeremy Greenstock stated in early 2009 that the Hamas charter was "drawn up by a Hamas-linked imam some [twenty] years ago and has never been adopted since Hamas was elected as the Palestinian government in 2006". Greenstock also stated that Hamas is not intent on the destruction of Israel

   
Hamas

The thirty-six articles of the Covenant detail the movement's Islamist beliefs regarding the primacy of Islam in all aspects of life. The Covenant identifies Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine and considers its members to be Muslims who "fear God and raise the banner of Jihad in the face of the oppressors."

The slogan of Hamas is "God is its target, the Prophet is its model, the Qur'an its constitution: Jihad is its path and death for the sake of God is the loftiest of its wishes." Hamas states that its objective is to support the oppressed and wronged and "to bring about justice and defeat injustice, in word and deed." Hamas believes that "the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf (trust) consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day," and as such, the land cannot be negotiated away by any political leader. Hamas rejects "so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences" as incapable of realizing justice or restoring rights to the oppressed, believing "there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad."


Preface: "Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it." (A quote by Imam Hassan al Banna)
Article 6: "The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine, for under the wing of Islam followers of all religions can coexist in security and safety where their lives, possessions and rights are concerned..."
Article 11: "The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgment Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up."
Article 13: "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with."
Article 28: "The Zionist invasion is a vicious invasion ... It relies greatly in its infiltration and espionage operations on the secret organizations it gave rise to, such as the Freemasons, The Rotary and Lions clubs, and other sabotage groups. All these organizations, whether secret or open, work in the interest of Zionism and according to its instructions ..."
Article 31: "The Islamic Resistance Movement is a humanistic movement. It takes care of human rights and is guided by Islamic tolerance when dealing with the followers of other religions. It does not antagonize anyone of them except if it is antagonized by it or stands in its way to hamper its moves and waste its efforts. Under the wing of Islam, it is possible for the followers of the three religions - Islam, Christianity and Judaism - to coexist in peace and quiet with each other."
Article 32: "After Palestine, the Zionists aspire to expand from the Nile to the Euphrates. When they will have digested the region they overtook, they will aspire to further expansion, and so on. Their plan is embodied in The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, and their present conduct is the best proof of what we are saying."[24]


[edit] Activities

[edit] Provision of social welfare and education

The organization is particularly popular among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, though it also has a following in the West Bank, and to a lesser extent in other Middle Eastern countries. Since its formation in 1987, Hamas has conducted numerous social, political, and military actions. Its popularity stems in part from its welfare and social services to Palestinians in the occupied territories, including school and hospital construction. The group devotes much of its estimated $70-million annual budget to an extensive social services network, running many relief and education programs, and funds schools, orphanages, mosques, healthcare clinics, soup kitchens, and sports leagues. According to the Israeli scholar Reuven Paz "approximately 90 percent of the organization's work is in social, welfare, cultural, and educational activities".[25] These programs are viewed variously as part of a sincere social development agenda, an integrated para-state policy, as propaganda and recruitment exercises, or both. In any case, Hamas has significantly increased literacy in areas where it is active. Hamas also funds a number of other charitable activities, primarily in the Gaza Strip. These include religious institutions, medical facilities, and social needs of the area's residents. The work of Hamas in these fields supplements that provided by the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA). The charitable trust Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development was accused in December 2001 of funding Hamas. Hamas is also well regarded by Palestinians for its efficiency and perceived lack of corruption compared to Fatah.[26][27]


[edit] Funding

According to the U.S. State Dept,[10] Hamas is funded by Iran (led by a Shiite Islamic regime), Palestinian expatriates, and private benefactors in Saudi Arabia and other Arab states. The party is known to support families of suicide bombers after their deaths.

[edit] Other

The main website of Hamas provides translations of official communiqués in Persian language, Urdu, Malay, Russian, English, and Arabic.

In 2005, Hamas announced its intention to launch an experimental TV channel, "Al-Aqsa". The station was launched on January 7, 2006, less than three weeks before the Palestinian legislative elections.[28] It included a TV show for children.


[edit] History

[edit] Brief timeline

[edit] Before 1987 - Palestinian Islamic activities prior to the creation of Hamas

Sheikh Ahmed Yassin returned to Gaza from Cairo in the 1970s, where he set up Islamic charities, founding Hamas in 1987 as an offshoot of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. According to the Israeli weekly Koteret Rashit (October 1987), "The Islamic associations as well as the [Islamic university - founded in 1978 in Gaza] had been supported and encouraged by the Israeli military authority" in charge of the (civilian) administration of the West Bank and Gaza. "They [the Islamic associations and the university] were authorized to receive money payments from abroad." By the end of 1992, there were 600 mosques in Gaza. Hamas attracted members through preaching and charitable work before spreading its influence into trade unions, universities, bazaars, professional organizations and local government political races beginning in December 2004. “Thanks to Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad (Israel’s Institute for Intelligence and Special Tasks), the Islamists were allowed to reinforce their presence in the occupied territories. Meanwhile, the members of Fatah (Movement for the National Liberation of Palestine) and the Palestinian Left were subjected to the most brutal form of repression”, according to L'Humanité.[30] Indeed Israel supported and encouraged Hamas' early growth in an effort to undermine the secular Fatah movement of Yasser Arafat.[31] According to UPI, Israel supported Hamas starting in the late 1970s as a "counterbalance to the Palestine Liberation Organization".[32] At that time, Hamas's focus was on "religious and social work". The grassroots movement concentrated on social issues such as exposing corruption, administration of waqf (trusts) and organizing community projects.

[edit] 1987 - The establishment of Hamas

The acronym "Hamas" first appeared in 1987 in a leaflet which accused the Israeli intelligence services of undermining the moral fiber of Palestinian youth as part of Mossad's recruitment of what Hamas termed "collaborators". The use of violence by Hamas appeared almost contemporaneously with the First Intifada, beginning with the beating of Palestinians working with the Israeli government, progressing to attacks against Israeli military targets and moving on to violence aimed at civilians. As its methods have changed over the last twenty years, so has its rhetoric, now effectively claiming that Israeli civilians are "military targets" by virtue of living in a state with universal military conscription. The first Hamas suicide bombing was committed in April 1993 at Mehola Junction.

[edit] 1991 - The Persian Gulf war

Between February and April 1988, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin raised several millions dollars from the Gulf states, which had withdrawn their funding from Fatah following its official support of Saddam Hussein during the first Gulf War. In prison since 1989, Yassin was released under “humanitarian reasons” by Prime Minister Netanyahu following a failed assassination attempt on Khaled Mashal, and expelled to Jordan, from where he was allowed to return to Gaza in October 1997. The Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military branch, was created a year before the Oslo Accords, in an attempt to block those negotiations.

[edit] 2004 - A 10-year truce

On January 26 2004, senior Hamas official Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi offered a 10-year truce, or hudna, in return for a complete withdrawal by Israel from the territories captured in the Six Day War, and the establishment of a Palestinian state (it remade the same offer after winning the majority in the PLC, accepting the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative[33]). Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin stated that the group could accept a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Rantissi confirmed that Hamas had come to the conclusion that it was "difficult to liberate all our land at this stage, so we accept a phased liberation." He said the truce could last 10 years, though "not more than 10 years".

From the time of an attack on the Israeli southern town of Be'er Sheva in August 2004, in which 15 people were killed and 125 wounded, the truce was generally observed. Hamas violated once, in August 2005, with an attack on the same bus station, wounding seven, and in several attacks on Israeli motorists - killing six in several attacks.[34][35]

End of January 2004, Steve Cohen, US civil servant mandated by the State Department and Colin Powell, assisted to a meeting with Hamas officials, according to the French newspaper Le Canard enchaîné. The mission was not only in informing itself about the objectives of the movement, according to the newspaper, but also to evaluate if Hamas could represent a counter-balance to al-Qaeda. In exchange, Hamas officials asked for the end of extra-judicial "targeted assassinations" practiced against them by the Israeli military.[31]

While the group boycotted the 2005 Palestinian presidential election, it did participate in the 2005 municipal elections organized by Yassir Arafat in the occupied territories. In those elections it won control of over one third of Palestinian municipal councils, besting Fatah, which has traditionally been "the biggest force in Palestinian politics".[36] With this electoral success behind it, Hamas contested the 2006 elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council as the main component of the List of Change and Reform.

[edit] 2005 - Israel's unilateral disengagement plan

In 2004, in a prelude to Israel's unilateral disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip, Israeli forces carried out a number of military attacks on Gaza cities and refugees camps, seeking to draw out and kill Hamas-affiliated gunmen. Awareness of high casualties during such incursions has led the Hamas leadership to instruct its activists to avoid putting themselves needlessly in the line of fire. On 12 September 2005 IDF withdrew from the Gaza Strip and declared an official end to Israeli military rule in Gaza, though Israel still retains control of the airspace and of the sea. However, the Palestinan Authority argues that the occupation is on-going, as complete sovereignty includes control of both airspace and seaways. The Gaza strip has been called an "open-air prison".[37]

Hamas claimed that this unilateral withdrawal was a victory for its armed struggle and pledged to liberate all the occupied territories, including the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Fatah, on the other hand, viewed Ariel Sharon's unilateral plan as proof of the Palestinians' failure to obtain international recognition. Both criticized the disengagement plan, citing Sharon's simultaneous encouragement of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including Ma'ale Adummim, a large settlement east of Jerusalem.[38]

In April 2005, an advisor of hawkish Benjamin Netanyahu, principal right-wing opponent of Ariel Sharon, secretly negotiated with a Hamas representant, according to the Le Canard enchaîné. The meeting was about the "possibility of an administrative co-gestion with the Hamas in the occupied territories", which is already the case in some Hamas-controlled cities of the West Bank, according to the French newspaper, which continues saying that: "But, in both sides, participants to such a dialogue keeps their mouth shut (bouche cousue). It is impossible to admit that one has met and negotiated with his sworn enemy."[31]

[edit] January 2006 - Winning the legislative election

Template:Wikinews While Hamas had boycotted the January 2005 presidential election, during which Mahmoud Abbas was elected to replace Yasser Arafat, it did participate in the municipal elections held between January and May 2005, in which it took control of Beit Lahia in Gaza, Qalqilyah in the West Bank and Rafah. The January 2006 legislative elections marked another victory for Hamas, which gained the majority of seats, defeating the ruling Fatah party. The "List of Change and Reform", as Hamas presented itself, obtained 42.9% of the vote and 74 of the 132 seats.[39]

[edit] Political decisions and consequences on economy

Template:See

The result of the election was regarded as a major setback for governments attempting to mediate the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The George W. Bush administration immediately declared that it will not deal with Hamas until it renounces its support of suicide bombings and violence, and accepts Israel's right to exist. Israeli president Moshe Katsav and Israel's ex-prime minister Shimon Peres both said that, if Hamas will accept Israel's right to exist and give up violence, Israel should negotiate with the organization. President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not support any efforts to cut off financial assistance to the Palestinians, stating that Hamas gained power by democratic means. He invited some Hamas leaders to Moscow beginning of March 2006, and in May, repeated that cutting funds to the Hamas was a "mistake".[40]

The US and the EU cut all funds to the Palestinian Authority, with only Russia warning against the potential dangers of cutting out the PA from any western support. The EU (which gives $500 million per year to the PA) announced that future aid to the Palestinians was tied to "Three Principles" outlined by the international community — Hamas must renounce violence, it must recognize Israel's right to exist and it must express clear support for the Middle East peace process, as outlined in the 1993 Oslo Accords. Hamas does not seems to be ready to accept such conditions, and rejected them as "unfair".[41] At best, they would be ready to accept the Arab Peace Initiative formulated on March 28, 2002 during the Arab League Beirut Summit: full normalization of relations with Israel in exchange for Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 internationally recognized borders, implying Israeli evacuation of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, east Jerusalem, the Golan Heights and the return of all Palestinian refugees and their descendants.[42] Furthermore, the US has imposed a financial blockade on the PA's banks, impeding some of the Arab League's funds (e.g. Saudi Arabia and Qatar) from being transferred to the PA.[42]

Israel, on the other side, decided to cut transfers of the $55 million tax-receipts of the PA that it receives on the PA's behalf, since the PA doesn't have any access point to receive taxes. On February 19, 2006, interim Israeli Prime minister Ehud Olmert, who called the PA a "terrorist authority", decided to stop transfer of the $55 million tax-receipts to the PA, which accounts for a third of the PA's budget (two thirds of its proper budget) and insure the wages of 165 000 Palestinian civil servants (among them 60 000 security and police officers). The salary of the Palestinian civil servants permits a third of the Palestinian population to live.[42] Israel had already done that in 1991 and 1992, but international aid had covered up the budgetary losses. Israel also decided to increase controls on check-points, but finally decided against blocking Palestinians from commuting between Gaza and the West Bank and from prohibiting them to work in Israel. Criticizing these measures, moderate Labour leader Amir Peretz said that they were "indirect ways" to "get around Hamas and strengthen moderate forces" among the Palestinians.

In May 2006, following a World Bank report about the Palestinian economy, the Quartet on the Middle East (the United States, Russia, European Union, and the United Nations) agreed to transfer funds directly to the Palestinian population. Israeli minister of foreign affairs, Tzipi Livni, said the measure was "acceptable", while PA minister of foreign affairs, Mahmoud Zahar, welcomed the promise of aid but criticised attempts to bypass the PA: "We appreciate every effort in order to help the Palestinian people by legal channels... and the legal channel is the Palestinian Authority, whether the presidency or the government,".[43]

The World Bank had already compared the 2001 and 2002 economic recession, due to the Second Intifada and Israel's refusal to transfer tax receipts, to the 1929 economic crisis. The UN underlined that unemployment, which was estimated to 23% in 2005, would increase to 39% in 2006, while poverty, estimated at 44%, would increase to 67% in 2006.[42] According to a World Bank report published on May 7, 2006, the delay in paying the PA's civil servants — whom haven't received their wages since March 2006 — is dangerous both on social and security plans. This convinced the United States to accept the EU proposal, supported by Russia and the Arab countries, of finding a way to transfer funds to the Palestinian society without passing by the Palestinian Authority. The Quartet on the Middle East thus accepted, on May 9, 2006, an "international temporary mechanism of limited range and length"[44]

[edit] Last Fatah measures

Before the Israeli decision to cut transfer of tax receipts, Palestinian Assembly passed legislation giving to the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, the power to appoint a court that could veto legislation passed by the new Hamas-led parliament to be sworn in start of February. The constitutional court would veto legislation deemed in violation of the Palestinians' Basic Law, a forerunner to the Palestinian constitution. Palestinian deputies also backed a decree which automatically makes members of the incoming parliament members of the Palestine Liberation Organization's (PLO) parliament in exile. Unlike the Hamas charter, the PLO charter recognises the legitimacy of Israel.[45][46]

[edit] Hamas' declarations since the 2006 legislative elections

Although Hamas omitted its call for the destruction of Israel from its election manifesto, calling instead for "the establishment of an independent state whose capital is Jerusalem," several Hamas candidates insisted that the charter remains in force.[16][47]

On February 8, Hamas head Khaled Mashal speaking in Cairo had clarified that "Anyone who thinks Hamas will change is wrong", stating that while Hamas is willing for a ceasefire with Israel, its long term goal remains: elimination of Israel by Islam via a jihad against what Hamas sees as Zionist Jewish settler-colonial invaders in all of what he called Palestine.[48]

However, on February 13, 2006, in an interview in Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the same Khaled Mashal declared that Hamas would stop armed struggle against Israel if it recognized the 1967 borders, withdrew itself from all Palestinian occupied territories (including the West Bank and East Jerusalem) and recognized Palestinian rights which would include the "right of return". This was the first time that Hamas even talked about an eventual stop to armed struggle. But Mashal continued to refuse to acknowledge the Road map for peace, adopted by the Quartet in June 2003, "since nobody respects it". The Road map projected the establishment of an independent Palestinian state in 2005.[49]

In May 2006, Hamas leaders threatened a new Intifada, as well as to decapitate anyone who tried to bring down their cabinet.[50]

[edit] Cabinet formation

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei and his cabinet resigned, leaving Hamas to form a new government, which was completely formed on March 20. On February 19, Hamas had chosen Ismail Haniya as Prime minister of the PA, and on the same day the government of Israel decided counter-measures against the new Hamas-led Palestinian Authority (suspension of $55 million transfer of tax-receipts). After the victory, Israeli human rights organizations have called on Hamas to stop its terror campaign against civilians and to avoid using violence as a tool to achieve a political solution.[citation needed]

On March 20, 2006, Hamas unveiled its full cabinet list, placing loyal members in charge of all key ministries; of the 24 ministers appointed, the majority were Hamas (the others were independent or technocrats). Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah refused to join the Hamas government. The position of foreign minister was given to Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Gazan leader and target of previous assassination attempts by Israel. Saeed Seyam, another Hamas leader, was appointed interior minister, in charge of multiple security agencies. Hamas member and engineer Ala el-Deen Al-Araj was appointed economics minister. The position of finance minister was given to Omar Abdel-Razeq, Hamas election official and economics professor from the West Bank.[51]

In his interview to The Sunday Telegraph, the newly appointed chief of the Palestinian security services Jamal Abu Samhadana stated: "We have only one enemy. They are Jews. We have no other enemy. I will continue to carry the rifle and pull the trigger whenever required to defend my people."[52] However, president Mahmoud Abbas retained official control over the Palestinian security services.[53]

[edit] Tensions between Fatah and Hamas

Since the formation of the new Hamas cabinet on March 20, 2006, tensions have progressively risen in the Gaza strip between Fatah and Hamas militants. In May 2006, The Sunday Times reported that Israeli security sources claimed they had uncovered a Hamas plot to assassinate president Mahmoud Abbas.[54] This was officially denied by a Hamas spokesman, while Mahmoud Abbas' spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeina, described the report as "totally untrue".[55] On May 8, three Palestinians were killed and 10 wounded in clashes in southern Gaza, near Khan Yunis, between rival Hamas and Fatah gunmen. The PA, confronted to the Quartet's blockade and Israel's refusal to hand out the $55 million in monthly tax revenues impedes it from paying its 165,000 employees (whose wages allow a third of the Palestinian population to live). On May 6 and 7, hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza and the West Bank demanding payment of their wages. Although this inter-Palestinian incident was one of the most serious since January, tension has been slowly risen with the "economic squeeze" on the PA.[53]

12 people were killed during the first days of October 2006 in armed clashes between Fatah, and the Hamas Interior ministry police. These clashed started when the interior ministry militia forcibly dispersed a gathering of Policemen demonstrating against unpaid wages. The Fatah affliliated Al-Asqa brigades have threatened to assassinate Hamas leaders including Khaled Meshal, Saeed Seyam and Youssef al-Zahar.[citation needed] The Al-Asqua brigaded kidnapped but then released a senior official in the Finance ministry.

[edit] Agreement and preservation of national unity

On June 27, Hamas and Fatah reached an agreement on the prisoners' document which included the forming of a national unity government.

[edit] 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict

Main article: 2006 Israel-Gaza conflict

On June 9, during or shortly after an Israeli operation, an explosion occurred on a busy Gaza beach, killing eight Palestinian civilians.[56][57] It was initially assumed that Israeli shellings was responsible for the killings, although Israeli government officials later denied this. Prompted by the recent events Hamas formally withdrew from its 16-month ceasefire on June 10, and took responsibility for the ongoing Qassam rocket attacks being launched from Gaza into Israel.[58]

On June 24, 2006 Israeli operatives apprehended Osama and Mustafa Muamar in the Gaza Strip, alleged by Israel to be Hamas members.[59] On June 25, a Hamas attack in Israel resulted in the deaths of two Israeli soldiers and the capture of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit. Israel then launched Operation Summer Rains on June 28 to recover the captured soldier. The ongoing operation initially consisted of heavy bombardment of bridges, roads, and the only power station in Gaza. Several PA facilities were also bombed, such as the Palestinian Interior Ministry and the office of the Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya.

On 29 June, Israel captured 64 Hamas officials. Amongst them were eight Palestinian Authority cabinet ministers and up to twenty members of the Palestinian Legislative Council,[60] as well as heads of regional councils, and the mayor of Qalqilyah and his deputy. At least a third of the Hamas cabinet was captured and held by Israel. On 6 August Israeli forces detained the Hamas' Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Aziz Dweik, at his home in the West Bank.

On November 2006 a 64 old grandmother executed a suicide bomb mission killing herself and injuring 2 Israeli soldiers slightly. Hamas claimed responsability and its spokesman, Abu Obeida declared that "both Palestinian men and women are committed to battling the Israelis". [61]

[edit] Legal action against Hamas

In 2004, a federal court in the United States found Hamas liable in a civil lawsuit for the 1996 murders of Yaron and Efrat Ungar near Bet Shemesh, Israel. Hamas has been ordered to pay the families of the Ungars $116 million.[62] On July 5, 2004, the court issued a default judgment against the PNA and the PLO regarding the Ungars' claim that the Palestinian Authority and the PLO provide safe haven to Hamas.

On August 20, 2004, three Palestinians, one a naturalized American citizen, were charged with a "lengthy racketeering conspiracy to provide money for terrorist acts in Israel". The indicted include Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, senior member of Hamas, believed to be currently in Damascus, Syria and considered a fugitive by the U.S..

In a 2002 report, Human Rights Watch stated that Hamas' leaders "should be held accountable for the war crimes and crimes against humanity" that have been committed by its members.[63]

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ "BBC NEWS" Hamas sweeps to election victory
  2. ↑ http://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/peace_publications/election_reports/FinalRpt-Palestine2006-NDI.pdf
  3. ↑ http://www.cartercenter.org/news/documents/doc2287.html
  4. ↑ http://www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/45394.htm
  5. ↑ Listing of Terrorist Organisations, Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, 27 January 2006. Accessed July 31, 2006.
  6. ↑ Keeping Canadians Safe, Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada, National Security, Listed entities. Accessed July 31, 2006.
  7. ↑ "Hamas is listed as a terrorist group in the Criminal Code of Canada." Tibbetts, Janice. Canada shuts out Hamas ,The Montreal Gazette, March 30, 2006.
  8. ↑ "UK Home Office"
  9. ↑ "Council Decision" Council of the European Union, December 21, 2005
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Country reports on terrorism", U.S. State Dept., April 27, 2005.
  11. ↑ Karmi, Omar. "What does the Hamas victory mean for nearby Jordan?", The Daily Star, February 18, 2006
  12. ↑ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israeli-forces-arrest-hamas-cabinet-ministers-405972.html
  13. ↑ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/world_agenda/article7132669.ece
  14. ↑ http://www.docstoc.com/docs/8303274/The-Israel-Projects-2009-Global-Language-Dictionary
  15. ↑ http://palestinechronicle.com/view_article_details.php?id=15429
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Hamas drops call for destruction of Israel from manifesto" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1684472,00.html), January 12, 2006, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,2763,1684472,00.html>
  17. ↑ "Hamas Leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar: We Will Not Give Up the Resistance; We Will Not Give Up a Single Inch of Palestine; We Will Not Recognize Israel's Right to Exist" (http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1014), January 25, 2006, <http://www.memritv.org/Transcript.asp?P1=1014>
  18. ↑ Khaled Abu Toameh (April 2, 2006). 'I dream of a map without Israel'. Jerusalem Post.
  19. ↑ The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). MidEast Web (August 18, 1988).
  20. ↑ Arnon Regular. The Palestinian media dream a possible dream. Haaretz. Retrieved on 2006-04-10.
  21. ↑ "New-look Hamas spends £100k on an image makeover" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1690610,00.html), January 20, 2006, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/israel/Story/0,,1690610,00.html>
  22. ↑ Hamas: The Fundamentalist Challenge to the PLO (April, 1992).
  23. ↑ Madelene Axelsson (January 27, 2006). Islamistisk politik vinner mark. Stockholms Fria Tidning. Template:Sv icon
  24. ↑ A viable Palestinian state.... Die Welt (January 1, 2006).
  25. ↑ Hamas: Background Q&A. Council on Foreign Relations (March 16, 2006).
  26. ↑ "Why Rising Popularity Poses a Dilemma for Hamas" (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1151969,00.html), January 23, 2006, <http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1151969,00.html>
  27. ↑ "The Palestinian Authority held a democratic election and Israel and the rest of the world must accept that Hamas was the victor" (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf24.html#a46), No date, <http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/mf24.html#a46>
  28. ↑ "Hamas launches “Al-Aqsa”, an experimental TV channel intended to improve its propaganda and indoctrination capabilities" (http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/eng_n/al_aqsa_e.htm), January 22, 2006, <http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/eng_n/al_aqsa_e.htm>
  29. ↑ "Next Hamas Leader Confirmed" (http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=61435), April 26, 2004, <http://www.israelnn.com/news.php3?id=61435>
  30. ↑
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2
  32. ↑
  33. ↑ Template:Fr icon "Le Quartet cherche une solution à la banqueroute palestinienne" (http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-769645,0.html), May 9, 2006, <http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-769645,0.html>. Retrieved on date={{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}
  34. ↑ "Deadly Hebron cell caught" (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3211836,00.html), February 6, 2006, <http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3211836,00.html>
  35. ↑ "Shin Bet cracks Hamas terror cell" (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1138622559871&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull), February 6, 2006, <http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1138622559871&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull>
  36. ↑ "Hamas success in Fatah heartland" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4541383.stm), May 13, 2005, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4541383.stm>
  37. ↑ Joel Beinin (February 8, 2006), "Breakthrough or Blockade in Middle East Peace Process? Why Hamas won, and why negotiations must resume" (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/08/EDGURH4I5P1.DTL), <http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/02/08/EDGURH4I5P1.DTL>
  38. ↑ "Israel: Sharon the blessed" (http://mondediplo.com/2006/02/03sharon), February 2006, <http://mondediplo.com/2006/02/03sharon>
  39. ↑ The CEC announces the final results of the second PLC elections
  40. ↑ "Une bouffée d’oxygène pour les Palestiniens" (http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/077/article_43622.asp), May 10, 2006, <http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/077/article_43622.asp>. Retrieved on date={{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}} Template:Fr icon
  41. ↑ "Hamas rejects 'unfair' aid demand", BBC News, January 31, 2006
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 Template:Fr icon "Le Quartet cherche une solution à la banqueroute palestinienne" (http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-769645,0.html), May 9, 2006, <http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3218,36-769645,0.html>. Retrieved on date={{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}
  43. ↑ "Palestinians to get interim aid", BBC News, May 10, 2006
  44. ↑ "Une bouffée d’oxygène pour les Palestiniens" (http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/077/article_43622.asp), May 10, 2006, <http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/077/article_43622.asp>. Retrieved on date={{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}} Template:Fr icon
  45. ↑ "Palestinian Parliament Gives New Power" (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021300259.html?sub=AR), February 13, 2006, <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/13/AR2006021300259.html?sub=AR>
  46. ↑ "Outgoing MPs boost Abbas' power" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4708820.stm), February 13, 2006, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4708820.stm>
  47. ↑ "Hamas: Ceasefire for return to 1967 border" (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3207845,00.html), January 30, 2006, <http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3207845,00.html>
  48. ↑ "Hamas offers deal if Israel pulls out" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/09/wmid09.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/02/09/ixworld.html), 2006-02-09, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/02/09/wmid09.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/02/09/ixworld.html>
  49. ↑ "Hamas will end armed struggle if Israel quits territories - leader" (http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/02/12/afx2519867.html), February 12, 2006, <http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/02/12/afx2519867.html>
  50. ↑ Abu Toameh, Khaled. Hamas armed force readies for action, The Jerusalem Post, May 6, 2006.
  51. ↑ "Hamas unveils Palestinian cabinet list" (http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20387227.htm), March 20, 2006, <http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20387227.htm>
  52. ↑ "'Jews are our enemy. I will pull the trigger whenever required'" (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/23/whamas23.xml), 2006-04-23, <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/04/23/whamas23.xml>
  53. ↑ 53.0 53.1 "Three die in Fatah-Hamas clashes" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4983510.stm), May 8, 2006, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4983510.stm>. Retrieved on date={{subst:CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{subst:CURRENTYEAR}}
  54. ↑ Mahnaimi, Uzi. Israel foils plot to kill Palestinian president , The Sunday Times, May 7, 2006.
  55. ↑ "Un complot visant Abbas aurait été déjoué grace aux Israéliens", L'Orient-Le Jour, May 8, 2006.
  56. ↑ "Death on the Beach: Seven Palestinians killed as Israeli shells hit family picnic" (http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1794536,00.html), 2006-06-10, <http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,1794536,00.html>
  57. ↑ "Palestinian Child Buries Slain Family" (http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-06/11/01.shtml), 2006-06-11, <http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2006-06/11/01.shtml>
  58. ↑ [1]
  59. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5112846.stm
  60. ↑ "ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS URGED TO 'STEP BACK FROM THE BRINK', AVERT FULL-SCALE CONFLICT, AS SECURITY COUNCIL DEBATES EVENTS IN GAZA" (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8768.doc.htm), 2006-06-30, <http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8768.doc.htm>
  61. ↑ Suicide bomber was grandmother aged 64
  62. ↑ [2]
  63. ↑ Erased In A Moment: Suicide Bombing Attacks Against Israeli Civilians V. Structures and Strategies of the Perpetrator Organizations, Human Rights Watch, October, 2002. ISBN 1-56432-280-7

[edit] External links

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