| Submit your comments on this article |
| Middle East |
| Mishaal: Hamas would not be dragged into civil war |
| 2002-06-28 |
| In Damascus, Khaled Mishaal, political bureau chief of the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has affirmed that his Movement would not be dragged into a civil war. Speaking at the Arab culture center, Mishaal said Hamas and other Palestinian factions would not allow inter-Palestinian fighting despite the Palestinian Authoritiesâ practices. He also expressed conviction over failure of the Zionist enemyâs âDefensive Shieldâ operation in halting Palestinian resistance and martyrdom operations in spite of its success in inflicting severe damages and arresting around 5000 Palestinians. My Gawd! Where did they put them all? The Hamas leader pointed out that the American political moves immediately after that campaign was meant to make up for Sharonâs failure in face of the Palestinian peopleâs legendary steadfastness. He noted that the USA was keen on cooling the situation in Palestine so as to embark on the second phase of its so-called war against terrorism. He means killing Saddam Hussein. Mishaal further noted that the campaign against martyrdom operations was due to the Zionists and Americansâ wish to get rid of such attacks after failure of Sharon to terminate that phenomenon militarily. Hamas backed any internal reform as long as it was through Palestinian vision and not an âIsraeliâ one and as long as it was committed to resistance and not to capitulation. The Hamas political bureau chief underlined that his Movementâs strategy in the upcoming stage focused on three axes namely: retaining resistance, unity of the Palestinian people behind the resistance option and uniting Arab and Islamic stands towards continuation of resistance. Hamas and its Syrian controllers seem to see the possibility of a Paleostinian civil war, something I've not seen examined as a likelihood from our side. Now that Mishaal brings it up, it does seem like one of several likely scenarios. We could see Yasser disappear at the hands of the religious thugs, with the Palestinian Authority going with him. Hamas would see the replacement as itself — Yassin, Rantissi and the rest of the politburo taking over the functions of the PA and setting up a little Iran. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |