| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas's post-election goals |
| 2006-02-14 |
| Hamas' victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections presents a substantial threat to the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations and even to the future of the entire Middle East. The concern over this threat can be seen in the urgent summit on January 30, 2006 in London, where member-states of the Quartet discussed how to deal with the new and unexpected situation. The focus of the concerns is that a terrorist organization has won the right to rule the Palestinian Authority (PA), while still refusing to recognize the state of Israel, to not abandon its "armed struggle, or to renew the peace process. Hamas calls upon quartet not to impose economic sanctions against the Palestinian people Senior members of the Hamas movement-among them Khalid Mash'al, head of Hamas' political bureau, Isma'il Haniyya, head of Hamas' list for the PLC, and Sami Abu-Zuhri and Mushir Al-Masri, Hamas spokesmen-rejected the demands of the Quartet that Hamas lay down its arms and recognize Israel. The Hamas leaders called on the Quartet to respect the decision of the Palestinian people and not to base the transfer of funds to the PA on accession to these demands. According to Mash'al, since the Palestinian people still do not have a state they are dependent on foreign economic aid, however "they are not beggars."[1] Mash'al added that the European Union (EU) in particular, must be able to see that the aid is given to the Palestinian people, if it wishes to win their sympathy. If this is not done, Mash'al warns, "it (the EU) is likely to regret it later, when Hamas will lead the Palestinian people to the haven of rest." At the same time, both Mash'al and Haniyya called upon the leaders of the Arab and Muslim states, as the Arab investors, to stand by the Palestinians and not abandon them.[2] Local Arab leaders join in the international pressure against Hamas On February 1, 2006, Mahmud 'Abbas (Abu Mazen), chairman of the PA, met with Husni Mubarak, President of Egypt, and 'Umar Suliman, head of Egyptian intelligence. After the meeting, Abu Mazen promised that he would avoid imposing the task of forming the Palestinian government on the Hamas movement-despite its victory in the PLC elections-as long as Hamas refused to abandon the path of violence, recognize the state of Israel, and respect all of the agreements signed thus far. If Hamas continues to refuse, he said, he would be forced to impose on other factions the task of forming the new government. Suliman, who in recent years served as a mediator between Hamas and the PA, added that "if they will not accept upon themselves these issues, nobody will negotiate with them." Notwithstanding, he noted that Hamas is a radical organization that will have difficulties putting forth a precise and instant change in its policy. Ahmad abu al-Ghit, Egyptian Foreign Minister, added that Hamas is unable to escape reality and that "whoever sits in the parliament speaks through his mouth and not through arms."[3] Even Jordan joined the pressure of the international community upon Hamas to abandon terror and recognize Israel. Jordanian Prime Minister Ma'ruf al-Bakhit said in Amman that the Jordanian government-which expelled leaders of Hamas following the signing of a peace treaty between Jordan and Israel-would continue its policy of zero contact with the exiled leadership of the organization.[4] Hamas will not recognize Israel in spite of the heavy international pressures In his victory speech on January 28, 2006 in Damascus, Mash'al, stressed that Hamas will not succumb to international pressures to recognize Israel. "We are adhering to the liberation of Palestine and Jerusalem, the right of return, the evacuation of settlements and the option of armed resistance," he said. Addressing Israeli voters ahead of the March 2006 Knesset elections, Mash'al said: "there will be no peace or security amid the Israeli occupation."[5] Nevertheless, Mash'al mentioned that Hamas is a pragmatic movement, and is aware that the PA is based on the foundation of the Oslo Accords. According to him, Hamas is willing to fulfill all accords signed by the PA, so long as this does not contradict its principles and does not violate the Palestinians' rights. He argued that every agreement that is in favor of the Palestinian people and does not harm their rights will be acceptable by Hamas. Furthermore, he added that "non-recognition of Israel does not mean that no steps will be implemented that will consider the existing situation and the circumstances of this levelÂ…non-recognition of the occupation does not mean that I want to destroy Israel in a flash." He noted that Hamas does not intend to alter its charter and that the armed struggle against Israel is what brought victory in the elections.[6] In contrast to the non-recognition of Israel, Mash'al noted that Hamas will be willing to negotiate with the United States and the EU, however only on the provision that no preconditions will be imposed on it.[7] Hamas is prepared for a "Hudna" (armistice) with Israel on restricted terms In spite of this refusal to recognize Israel, Khalid Mash'al and Mahmud al-Zahhar expressed willingness to signing a temporary long-term peace treaty ("Hudna").[8] The "Hudna" that Hamas is proposing is very similar to The Hudaybiyya Treaty, a temporary treaty lasting ten years that was signed between the Prophet Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe in the year 628 (6 to the Hijra). This pact was representative of the period, and there exist numerous explanations for its signing: the first being the desire of Muhammad to allow himself and the Muslim believers, through significant religious concessions, to enter Mecca for a period of three days in order to fulfill the "'Umra" (a minor pilgrimage to Mecca not during the period of Hajj), in return for the promise that during this time Mecca would be evacuated of its residents and the two sides would not confront one another. A second explanation was Muhammad's desire to prevent a potential Quraysh-Jewish coalition against him. The third explanation is Muhammad's desire to neutralize the Quraysh tribe in the south while he planned to attack the Khaybar-Jews in the north. In retrospect, The Hudaybiyya Treaty allowed Muhammad and the Muslims to strengthen their ranks without needing to worry about a confrontation with the Quraysh tribe. After only two years (630) the Muslims annulled the agreement and conquered Mecca. This agreement has since been exploited more than once by radical Muslim organizations that seek to justify the annulment of agreements signed with those characterized as "enemies".[9] Hamas: Our democracy is not that of the United States and of Israel According to Khalid Mash'al, the democracy preferred by the United States and its allies, particularly Israel, is a democracy that fits the norms and political agendas of those states, but is completely different from that of the Hamas. The Hamas version of democracy is based on the Islamic democracy, which espouses "divine sovereignty" rather than "people's sovereignty".[10] Nevertheless, Mash'al turned to the Palestinian people and "calmed" them, claiming that Hamas does not intend, at this stage, to apply "Shari'a" (Muslim religious law) in the PA. In his words, "Hamas is aware of the existing situation at this stage, it believes in gradation and does not intend to force its plans on anybody, since the nation itself voted in favor of the armed struggle option."[11] In order to prevent turbulence in the PA, especially in the security apparatus, Mash'al declared that "there is no intention to enact a change of personnel in the Palestinian mechanisms, even though it is subject to change."[12] In regards to this, 'Atef 'Adwan, elected to the PLC on the Hamas list from northern Gaza, declared that there is no intention to replace the heads of the Palestinian security network with members of Hamas, even though changes will possibly occur based on criteria of effectiveness, professionalism and incorruptibility.[13] Mash'al characterized the present period as transitional and warned of any attempt to sabotage Hamas' victory. According to him, the forming of the Palestinian government will take place over a number of weeks or even months, and until then all of the authorities will remain under the previous government. Mash'al called upon Fatah to join the future government, and rejected criticism that the Hamas invitation stems from Hamas' inability to manage the PA alone.[14] He presented three primary goals that Hamas must fulfill throughout its service in the government: first, improving the situation of the Palestinian people in all aspects. Secondly, continuing the armed struggle. Third, "cleaning house" in the various bodies of the PA followed by the rebuilding of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which Hamas will be a part of.[15] Borders of the Palestinian state and the return of Hamas leaders to the Territories Khalid Mash'al declared that "the map of Palestine is the known map as it existed during the British Mandate" (in other words, from the sea to the river - author's note.). According to him, "we believe in operating in stages, gradually and realistically. We can achieve our rights step by step and establish our state, on the condition that there will be sovereignty."[16] Mash'al denied the existence of plans to return to the Territories, and said that "once Hamas decides to return its leaders to the Territories, it will choose the appropriate path and the right time to do so." Furthermore he added that "the return is a right that we will fight for, although it will be carried out at the right timeÂ…we trust those that are present in the Territories and Hamas does not need an irresponsible migration from abroad."[17] Establishing a Palestinian army for a future state Mash'al noted that Hamas is ready to collect the arms from the Palestinian street and to unite the various military wings of all organizations into one Palestinian army, "as exists in other countries." This army will operate, according to him, to liberate the rest of the Palestinian Territories, to defend the Palestinian people and to return the Palestinians' rights. As such, he will oversee the arms that will be collected from the public. Mash'al noted that the establishment of a Palestinian army will not interfere with the role of the "'Iz al-Deen al-Qassam Brigades", the military wing of Hamas, who "will continue to defend the Palestinian people."[18] Summary and Conclusion Despite declarations on the part of Hamas leaders that it is willing to fulfill all of the commitments of the previous government, there is a clear contradiction here, since these commitments contradict two main principles central to the movement's charter: non-recognition of Israel and continuance of the armed struggle against it. Hamas' calls for the "Hudna" with Israel is merely an ancient maneuver commonly used by radical Islamic organizations to reestablish and strengthen their power without being exposed to danger from their adversaries. The "Hudna" is intended to serve the step by step program that Hamas advocates for the liberation of all of Palestine, from the sea to the river. This is evident in Mash'al's words: "we believe in operating in steps, gradually, and realistically. We can achieve our rights step by step and establish our state, on the condition that there will be sovereignty." |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #4 The Hudaybiyya Treaty of 628?!? Good Lord...can't the UN fund some kind of remedial "civilization" courses for these folks? Just get em up to speed by a few centuries may make all the difference. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2006-02-14 17:10 |
| #3 Actually, there is some evidence that Hamas is getting ready to collect the small arms of some of the free lance terrorist organizations in Gaza. As usually the case, there is a sub text and a sub sub text and a reality that doesn't match policy. Let's see how this unfolds. |
| Posted by: mhw 2006-02-14 15:01 |
| #2 Hamas' victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections presents a substantial threat to the future of Israeli-Palestinian relations and even to the future of the entire Middle East. But that didn't stop the Palestinians from voting in Hamas, now did it? Killing all the Jews is just too irresistible of a mandate. Hamas calls upon quartet not to impose economic sanctions against the Palestinian people Despite flouting a majority of the Quartets requirements, like recognizing Israel. Yah, sure, you betcha. That'll work every time. This army will operate, according to him, to liberate the rest of the Palestinian Territories, to defend the Palestinian people and to return the Palestinians' rights. As such, he will oversee the arms that will be collected from the public. Fatah couldn't make sure that the arms were collected. What makes Hamas think they'll be any more successful? You can drive a truck through most of the plans these jerks are making. Somehow, these idiots think they can use a majority of Fatah's methods to achieve exactly what Fatah could not, and with even less cooperation with outside agencies. These maggots must be smoking some really fine rope. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-02-14 13:33 |
| #1 Hamas To Do List: 1. Kill the Jews 2. see number 1 |
| Posted by: 2b 2006-02-14 03:50 |