It’s little wonder that we spend so much of our time criticizing Israel while the US media remains focused on Hamas. For a while, I’ve felt compelled to join their conversation, and this is as good a time as any to do so, not because Hamas is to blame for what’s happening now, but because it’s important to help set the record straight.
Hamas was just a resistance group before it became bogged down in politics. It remains a resistance group but much of its credibility has been compromised by its struggle for power. Indeed, politics and resistance have gone hand in hand for Palestinians since the state of Israel came into existence. It’s little wonder Abbas and his cronies are so unpopular – they have chosen to grovel before the Israelis rather than resist their control. While Hamas officials haven’t yet stooped to that level, their political ambitions limit their ability to function exclusively as a resistance movement, much like Hezbollah in Lebanon. If Israel were to negotiate with Hamas, the resistance would gradually fade away. The occupation gave birth to groups like Hamas; it now thrives on their existence. The occupier could easily put an end to the violence perpetrated by Palestinians if it were to grant them freedom and basic civil rights.
If we don’t usually write critical posts on the resistance that does not mean we turn a blind eye to its shortcomings and flaws. We fully support the concept but have differing views on the tactics being used. Many of our readers understand enough to justify their own contempt or support for such organizations, but most Americans can’t even comprehend the concept of Palestinian resistance – all they see are images that remind them of Hollywood terrorists. Dazed and confused, they have many questions…
Isn’t Hamas a terrorist organization?
I don’t believe it is, but one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter. The US considers Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps to be a terrorist organization; switch sides and the same could be said of the CIA. As reprehensible as some of its methods may be, Hamas is actually fighting for a noble cause – a free Palestine. I support that cause (even if I don’t necessarily support Hamas).
Why won’t Hamas accept Israel’s right to exist?
Because it is precisely that right which has been in question for the past 60 years. The very essence of Palestinian resistance rests in the conviction that there is no such right. Hamas is not alone – there are many people and countries who don’t recognize Israel’s right to exist. Afterall, why should they? The Zionist state was only realized 60 years ago through ethnic cleansing and violence perpetrated on the inhabitants of Palestine. What happened was nothing less than a travesty, which is why most Arabs refer to Israel’s ‘independence’ day as the nakba (catastrophe). Under the circumstances, recognition of Israel’s right to exist can only come after negotiations determine what separates it from the state of Palestine – that is the point Hamas leaders will make if one takes the time to listen to them. It is Israel’s right to exist in its current form that is unacceptable for the resistance and so many other people.
Why does Hamas continue to launch rockets at Israel?
Because they’re trying desperately to resist. They do so knowing that subsequent Israeli attacks will help rally people to their cause, which is deplorable on some levels, but that does not make them responsible for the effects of Israeli aggression. Hamas took control of Gaza in 2006, and the Israelis have considered it a “hostile entity” ever since. Not only did they break the truce when they killed six Palestinians in Gaza on November 4 (not to mention all their previous transgressions in the West Bank), but for over a year and a half they’ve effectively laid siege to the people, blocking all access and limiting the entry of basic necessities for a decent life. As those ‘in control’ of Gaza, what should Hamas officials do, sit back and watch the people suffer? Expecting them to give up their struggle is completely unrealistic.
What should Israel do since Hamas keeps launching rockets?
End the occupation and cease aggression. It really is that simple. These are the demands Hamas is making, and there is absolutely nothing unreasonable about them.
Hamas operates among civilians; aren’t they responsible when they’re hurt?
No, they are not responsible. Only Israeli officials have the audacity to blame Hamas for the deaths of civilians under Israeli and US-made weapons. No other nation would be given the leeway to kill dozens of civilians in an effort to take out a couple of suspected militants. Ideally, Hamas would not launch attacks from civilian areas, but in an ideal world the people of Gaza would not be living in squalor on top of one another without any hopes for the future. Ideally, there would be no reason to resist. There is absolutely no justification that Israel can provide for killing and maiming thousands of civilians with smart bombs, artillery shells, mortars, white phosphorous and other horrors.
What should Hamas do differently?
At this point, not much. If Israel were to cease its assault, Hamas could stop the rocket firing, but that is missing the point: Israel needs to end the occupation. Over the years – and particularly after being chosen by the people in free elections – Hamas has shown a consistent willingness to negotiate which has never been taken advantage of; it is doing everything it can. Nonetheless, its representatives need to do so with grace. Their defiance is understandable, as is their frustration; political expediency is obviously not their forte. But if they want to be taken seriously, they need to be less aggressive when speaking to the world. Of course, toning down the religious rhetoric would also facilitate their acceptance… and those boring speeches, read in the same monotonous tone, accompanied by the notorious waving finger we’ve come to know and hate, could use a change. They have a long way to go as a political organization, but one thing is certain: presently, Hamas has no reason to recognize Israel’s right to exist, especially not while it continues to kill Palestinians and make life miserable for the ones they spare.
Denying Israel’s right to exist is not denying the truth, as so many Zionist sympathizers suggest. Unfortunately, a state of Israel does exist at the expense of millions of refugees, occupied Palestinians, and ostracized Arabs within the ’48 borders. Nobody i
s trying to deny the facts. It’s not Israel’s existence that is in question, rather its right to exist as a racist state founded on ethnic cleansing and occupation, a state that acts in complete defiance of the international community and threatens the livelihood of billions. As Moussa Abu Marzook put it:
Renewed calls today for our movement to “recognize the right of Israel to exist,” in the face of murderous onslaught, ring as hollow as Israel’s continuing claims to be acting in “self-defense” as her jets bomb civilians. Without debating here the Zionist state’s fictive, existential “right,” which of the many Israels, precisely, would the West have us recognize? Is it the Israel that militarily occupies land belonging to three of its neighbors, ignoring international law and scores of U.N. resolutions over decades? Is it the Israel that illegally settles its citizens on other people’s land, seizes water sources and uproots olive trees? Is it the Israel that in 60 years has never acknowledged the forced expulsion of Palestinians from their farms and villages as the foundational act of its statehood and denies refugees their right to return?
Hamas leaders are not all unreasonable people, even if some of their views are extreme. They need to be given a fair chance in the negotiating process if there is to be any lasting peace. Their violent struggle with other Palestinian factions is mostly a manifestation of political exclusion.
An offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, the Islamic Resistance Movement (a.k.a. Hamas) is said to have been formed at the beginning of the first intifada by members of the resistance who were providing vital social services to the people of Gaza. Early on, the group’s founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin had been a staunch opponent of the “peace process” although he later indicated a clear willingness to accept a two state solution with a Palestinian state comprising the West Bank and Gaza. So much for not recognizing Israel’s right to exist… so much for full right of return… so much for resistance.
But the Israelis never wanted peace. They refused to negotiate with Hamas. The stepped up their vicious campaigns in Gaza and the West Bank. Before long, they began their targeted assassinations. The first victims of these surgical strikes were Yassin, two bodyguards and at least nine innocent civilians. Two months later his successor, Abdel Aziz al Rantissi was killed along with his son, a bodyguard, and an innocent family of six. Collateral damage notwithstanding, the US State Department made clear that “Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorist attacks.” Things now aren’t very different…
Hamas has engaged in violent resistance against Israeli occupation ever since its military wing was formed – the Qassam Brigades. Their first suicide bombing came a year after the Oslo Accords, which legitimized the occupation by creating the worthless Palestinian Authority. Nine people died in the attack; it was in retaliation to a shooting by a crazed settler who killed at least 30 Palestinians in a house of worship. Over the years, Hamas suicide bombings have killed nearly 500 people (less than the number of Palestinians who lost their lives in the first week of Israel’s current assault) – they have always been carried out in retaliation for repeated Israeli attacks. The prospect of hopeless people blowing themselves up near civilians is one no community should have to live with whether in Israel, Iraq or anywhere else. But such action is a sign of utter desperation, one that illustrates the lengths to which some people are willing to go for a just cause.
After Oslo, resistance became a thing of the past for the PLO and most of its supporters – many would essentially become collaborators. Governing under occupation, the PA was set up to fail. It had no way of providing basic social and civil services. It was increasingly corrupt and losing popular support. That only made it easier for Hamas to step in and do what needed doing, especially for the people of Gaza.
Realizing they were essentially a sham, Hamas stayed away from the 1996 elections. By the time the movement decided to participate in the political process ten years later, it had gained considerable popularity. It was a resounding victory for a group the US and Israel considered a terrorist organization… a terrorist organization that was willing to renounce violence, negotiate a two-state solution with the enemy, and ultimately recognize the legitimacy of the state of Israel – there were no calls for its destruction in the government manifesto. Hamas and Fatah eventually formed a viable coalition – a ‘national unity’ government – but things only got worse.
Israel refused to meet with the democratically elected people of Palestine and internal divisions grew deep. For a while, all Israel had to do was watch Hamas and Fatah supporters kill one another. Both sides have committed major transgressions towards the other. But in fairness, the Hamas government was never given a chance. In fact it was unfairly opposed by the US and EU, and it was plotted against by the corrupt PA. Its takeover of Gaza in the summer of 2006 was preemptive but arguably too extreme in its execution. Ever since that time, the Abbas government has been cooperating with the Israelis in hopes of weakening Hamas. In the eyes of many in the international community, the Islamic Resistance Movement became the center of negative attention – instead of blaming Israel for standing in the way of peace, people began to point their fingers at Hamas. That is most unfortunate.
Ironically, Israel was looking somewhat favorably on the rise of Islamic Resistance Movement in the early days. They saw the group as a potentially popular alternative to the PLO and other factions vying for power at the time – they were hoping to increase divisions within Palestinian society. In fact, there are reports that Israel provided direct aid to the budding movement in its efforts to undermine the PLO. Members of Hamas may talk the talk, but not all of them have clean hands. Whether or not it has had relations with Israeli officials, Hamas has done their bidding by increasing divisions in the Palestinian community. They continue to do so by launching relatively harmless rockets that only give Israel an excuse to unleash its savagery.
While I commend all those who stand up to the Zionist state, I have several problems with Hamas. I don’t like the idea of educated men with significant status in their respective communities orchestrating the martyrdom of their own followers in suicide bombings that target civilians. I am also opposed to the idea of fighters indiscriminately firing rockets that Israelis cleverly use as propaganda in support of devastating military campaigns. Their use of religion to justify their actions and incite supporters is also regrettable, to say the least.
Hamas is (supposed to be) an Islamic movement. Contrary to popular belief, that does not make it a terrorist organization; it only means that the foundation of the political system is (supposed to be) rooted in Sharia law. Religion has played a prominent role in politics for centuries, especially in communities where poverty and desperation are the norm. Unfortunately, this is the trend now in much of the Arab world, particularly in the the most impoverished areas. Ha
mas is one of many organizations in the region that uses religion as a political tool, one to rally the masses and effectively subdue them at the same time.
There may be no place on Earth as destitute as Gaza. It’s little wonder that there is so much support for a political movement founded on resistance that exploits religion and feelings of hopelessness. There are many problems with Hamas, but ultimately they are all the result of Israeli inhumanity and ongoing occupation. Whatever threat the group poses to Israeli civilians is infinitely small when compared to the daily suffering inflicted on Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Well over 1000 Palestinians have died in Gaza in less than three weeks. They are being bombed ruthlessly and the Israeli authorities are making every effort to prevent the truth from being told. There is no way to possibly justify the carnage being inflicted on Gaza. Israel’s official reasoning is based on the presumption that Hamas needs to be neutralized. But why? The Islamic Resistance Movement has repeatedly made clear its willingness to bow to the whims of the international community and renounce violence in exchange for an end to occupation and a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders. Its representatives should be allowed to negotiate without preconditions. Once again, the recognition of Israel’s right to exist can only come through negotiations, which the Israelis have avoided at terrible costs.
In summary, Hamas is not the cause of the problem – it is the occupation. If that has a familiar ring, it is with good reason. Unfortunately, Israel is unwilling to make the concessions necessary to stop the violence; it’s not the other way around. The facts speak for themselves.
Related posts:
- Trying to make sense of a senseless situation
- Whoops! Army officials “disappointed” most captured Gazans are not Hamas members
- Hamas Disavows Suicide Bombing
- The Myth of Israel’s “Targeted” Killing
- Israel Risks the Talibanization of Gaza: the Long-View on Israel and Palestine
As long as there is occupation, there will be always-always resistence. And, if your access to water, food, medicine and education is cut off, it is not crime to fight back, but rather it is a right.
Posted by Sword | January 15, 2009, 9:40 pmThere seems to be a sort of disconnect here. Hamas’s version of “end the occupation” is effectively “push the Jews into the sea”, in other words, erase the State of Israel. Do you seriously expect us to not fight against this? Sorry–but no. If Hamas (and by connection, the Palestinian population) aims to kill us all…they are going to have to fight for it. And die in the process.
It should also be pointed out that the State of Israel was established by a UN Mandate. Again, a disconnect. If a UN decision is ethnic cleansing and the like…why are the Arab countries so quick to run to the UN to request pronouncements against us. Either you accept the authority of the UN or you do not. If you do not, have some principles and avoid it entirely.
One last point–after the 1948 war, Israel still had an Arab population (and we still do-a very sizeable one-apparently we suck at this ethnic cleansing and genocide business). Areas taken over by Jordan were very quickly cleansed of their native Jewish populations. In particular, consider the Jewish quarter of the Old City, which had been Jewish for centuries….and was emptied out and trashed in the War of Independence.
After 40 years under Israeli sovereignity, on the other hand, the Old City still has Muslim, Christian and Armenian populations.
This is not to say that Israel is perfect, nor is it to say that we are a utopia where everyone is perfectly equal. We have a long way to go; fortunately we do have good people fighting to improve the situation. But it is to say…what is your intent in writing? Who are you writing to? Are you preaching to the choir? Or is your intent, and your hope, to get people who do not agree with you to perhaps reconsider their convictions? If it is the latter, throwing out words like “ethnic cleansing”, “genocide” and “holocaust” willy-nilly, with no consideration as to what these terms actually mean, and that they do not apply to this situation, makes it incredibly easy for people to dismiss your arguments out of hand as yet another Pallywood production.
Think about it. As we have demonstrated over the last few weeks, we have a pretty impressive military arsenal. If we were really after ethnic cleansing, or genocide…there would be no Arabs in Palestine. We have had 40 years. We would have wiped them out years ago. In fact, the populations have skyrocketed.
Please, if you are really interested in peace, think about how you use words. And if you are not–and destroying Israel is not “interested in peace”–accept that we are going to fight for our survival.
Posted by Gila | January 15, 2009, 10:10 pmGila – I could go line for line and respond to everything you took the time to write, but I’d only be repeating the same things I already wrote, which you either didn’t read or didn’t understand.
Ethnic cleansing is the attempt to create ethnically homogeneous areas through the deportation or forcible displacement of persons belonging to particular ethnic groups. The beautiful place you made Aliyah to was once inhabited by Palestinians – before the campaign of ethnic cleansing (that’s what it was), they were living in peace.
Peace. That is what I want. That is what all Palestinians want. I’m confident that is what Hamas want as well. They do not want to throw the Jews in the sea – they are happy enough with a free Gaza and West Bank. I’m afraid Israel does not want peace though. They refuse to make any concessions at all. I wish I was wrong, but the bodies in Gaza are a haunting reminder of the truth.
Salam
Posted by Kalash | January 15, 2009, 10:37 pmThis is the best explanation I’ve seen of Israel’s plan yet:
http://lawrenceofcyberia.blogs.com/news/2008/01/but-apart-from.html
“The thing is, we want all this land, but we don’t want those Arab people what live on it.
These days, you can’t simply bundle people onto wagons and cart them away, you have to have a more positive policy that will sort of … encourage … people to leave. [1]…”
Read the rest. The logic is inarguable.
Posted by Sean | January 15, 2009, 11:32 pmWow, Sean – that is in fact a very clear description of what has transpired. But it’s the footnotes on that page that are jaw-dropping – a must-read.
Posted by alfannaan | January 16, 2009, 12:57 amThe thing is none of the US, EU, UK, Israel or the UN has talked to Hamas. I know one former British diplomat who has and they say they are willing to make a compromise with Israel but will not unilaterally renounce violence and recognise Israel (like Fatah has) because they don’t know for sure that Israel really wants peace.
Look at Fatah, they did everything Israel wanted them to do yet the settlements continue to expand. That is not good enough.
Posted by Shafiq | January 16, 2009, 1:44 amwell, great post Kalash, finally a just POV regarding Hamas, I am getting tired of all Hamas is the root of all problems, as if things were perfectly fine before Hamas rise in power in 2006. Ofcourse that doesn't change the fact that they made some mistakes as well because of their short-sightedness.My main problem/beef with Hamas is what you mentioned, they are politically very inexperienced(although they're getting a tad better lately,Saleh al Bardweel is a very smart speaker on behalf of hamas IMO).but really, we palestinians really lack a political leadership right now. Fatah is hijacked by corrupt authority loving "figures"(while many of its patriotic honorable members are in israeli prisons) and Hamas doesn't have a satisfying unifying palestinian vision.I have mixed feelings about Hamas elections, sometimes, I wish they never partook in the elections for their sake. and sometimes, I think the fact that they won was important, to show how the mighty Fatah has fallen, and sadlly how Fatah has become very detached from its own people. Hamas being elected exposed many truths, the hypocrisy of the american/isreali/westren mottos of democracy, and how they cut off relations when people vote for something that doesn't conform to their interests.killing and imprisoning elected members. its extremely awful and saddening to witness how this democracy was treated.It may be a lesson to Hamas as well, a transition from a resistance group to a political group is not an easy task.We really need a national political leadership with a vision now. another thing is, palestinians should realize and Hamas especially that they are alone, yes Hamas should believe in palestinians first and foremost(afterall, they were left to fend for themselves depsite the talks about Hezbollah and Iran), Fatah well….I hope it returns to being the group we all admired and looked upto.we need unity, we need a vision, we need a responsibile political leadership that can unite all palestinians.Regards,
Posted by yasse | January 15, 2009, 10:16 pmI don’t believe it is, but one man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.
That’s what happens when you define words based on what you want them to mean instead of what they do mean.
A terrorist uses terrorism. Terrorism is not merely resistance. If your “resistance” includes attacking civilians for the express purpose of terrorizing them, you’re a terrorist.
Hamas rockets precisely fit that bill. But you still don’t believe it’s a terrorist organization. Nor do you see suicide bombings of civilians as terrorism. Because your definition of terrorism is whatever you want it to be. That’s one reason you’ll never persuade anyone who doesn’t already agree with you.
Posted by Roy | January 16, 2009, 6:35 amArab leaders' crimes on its people + drama language & belittling Holocaust
As an Arab I am ashamed that Arab kids can not be worth more than to be butchered by Hezbollah and HAMAS tactics in order to parade them on TV stages, I watch Al Jazeera, those photos of blooded children ore shocking, shocking that Arab leaders never seem to blame the real culprit, the radicals supported by Iran and Syria of course.
We in the Arab world have got to stop the maddness of obsessive Jew hatred especially in drama language like shouting: "genocide" and "massacre" on every battle we lose.
We will start understanding these terrorists' tactics when the militants wil start applying these "successful" (human shields) methods in our own backyard, when Jordan (Egypt, for example, etc.) will have to deal with extremists causing scores of kids to die, what will WE do then? blame whom?
Tags: Arabs, Fatah, Gaza, Hezbollah, human shields, IDF, Israel, Jews, Jihad, Muslims, PA, Hamas, Hezbollah, Holocaust, Palestinians, rocket attacks
Posted by Anonymous | January 16, 2009, 6:43 amYou’re trying very hard to make two wrongs into a single right, yet the fact that the Israeli occupation is wrong, cannot mean that all who oppose it, or all methods of opposition, are right.
The Hamas are very, very wrong. They will nor recognize Israel because they will nor agree to a two-state solution. They openly claim that any cease-fire is only a means to arm and get ready for another battle, with the ultimate goal of complete Muslim rule over all of Palestine/Israel. The act of recognition is the first act to be taken before negotiations between two separate international entities. The Hamas does not recognize Israeli because its very ideology goes against a peaceful coexistence side-by-side with Israel.
Futhermore, they are terrorists, not resistance fighters, simply because they aim their weapons mainly at civilians. There are plenty of Israeli military personnel near them, but they go to great lengths to send suicide bombers the explode within Israeli buses and restaurants. They aim their rockets at Israeli towns, not Israeli military bases. The simple fact that they were chosen democratically does not make such terror right. Not all that voted for by the majority belive in Democracy, Many villains have been elected democratically throughout history, and many of them have brought on great suffering on the people who elected them, by themselves or by war.
The Palestinians will do themselves a great deal of good if they turned away from the Hamas “resistance”. Such terror as the Hamas use cannot bring good on the people who use and support it. The occupation may be wrong, but fighting fire with fire will only burn down the house.
Posted by AutoFocus | January 16, 2009, 7:21 amIsrael did not have any troops or settlements in Gaza prior to the current hostilities, so what "occupation"? The blockade is self-inflicted; if the Palestinians stopped exporting suicide bombers and importing weapons to kill Israeli civilians, it wouldn't be necessary.The Hamas charter calls for flying the "banner of Allah" over all of what is currently Israel; is that the "end of the occupation" you write about? So all Israel has to do is disappear, and then Hamas will negotiate?This is why Palestinians die.
Posted by Rocket88 | January 16, 2009, 3:22 amOnly Israeli officials have the audacity to blame Hamas for the deaths of civilians under Israeli and US-made weapons.
Only them and international law, you mean.
“Should civilian casualties ensue from an attempt to shield combatants or a military objective, the ultimate responsibility lies with the belligerent placing innocent civilians at risk”
Dinstein,’Conduct of Hostilities under the Law of International Armed Conflict’
Posted by Roy | January 16, 2009, 7:44 amIf Israel were to cease its assault, Hamas could stop the rocket firing
What do the rockets have to do with the assault?
What makes you think Hamas would stop firing if Israel withdrew?
What do you think the rockets actually accomplish?
Posted by Roy | January 16, 2009, 7:47 amThe amount of venomous hatred in extreme Islamic factions is beyond measure. It is completely false to claim that if Israelis would treat them nicely, they would behave back likewise. We are not talking about human mind and behavior. We are talking about religious believes that forbid any kind of acceptance and co-existence. The same goes between Sunnis and Shias, same killing, cutting throats, maiming.
Throughout centuries leaders have been able to use Islam as a platform of hatred. Nothing more suitable target than the Jews. And nothing suits the Arab rulers better than having a common enemy you can freely hate and make people forget about their own misery.
Hamas – What is the problem? Well the problem is exactly Hamas and its death culture, endless hatred and complete disregard of human life including their own.
Masab Yousuf, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheik Hassan Yousef, who converted to Christianity, was appalled by the torture Hamas was applying to its own people and says:
“You Jews should be aware: You will never, but never have peace with Hamas. Islam, as the ideology that guides them, will not allow them to achieve a peace agreement with the Jews. They believe that tradition says that the Prophet Muhammed fought against the Jews and that therefore they must continue to fight them to the death.”
Posted by Arno | January 16, 2009, 8:01 amSomeone needs to get this girl an education. Her view of Hamas can only be categorized as “Ignorance is Bliss!”
Pretty scary stuff.
Posted by Ted | January 16, 2009, 8:23 amThe face of Saruman on that banner is somewhat amusing. I can just imagine the speaker there saying, “We are the fighting Uruk-hai!”
Posted by Roy | January 16, 2009, 9:05 amDid any of you morons even read this post?
It completely debunks any of the garbage you have used to try and criticize this post.
Oh and the Blockade is an act of war. When you don’t allow 99.9% of goods to enter or leave an area that constitutes an act of war. Gaza put up with that for 18 months (including the time during the cease fire).
Posted by Super Sayyin | January 16, 2009, 9:13 amSayyim, is there anyone who is claiming that the blockade isn’t an act of war? Anyone who isn’t aware of it?
Israel and Hamas have been at war for a long time. You seem to be upset that Israel responds to war-making with war-making.
Posted by Roy | January 16, 2009, 10:23 amcowards, israel will never understand what palestinians and gazan go through. even tho they have been through it, they didnt learn their lesson, it made them turn into beasts.I guess hitler left alot of them alive so we can see what they are really like.
Posted by Anonymous | January 16, 2009, 6:32 amAfter reading this post, I can’t believe anyone would accuse Palestinian activists of supporting terrorism!
Posted by Phil | January 16, 2009, 10:34 amFirst, Kalash thanks for the post, it’s very interesting.
Roy said: “If (…) includes attacking civilians for the express purpose of terrorizing them, you’re a terrorist.”
Mmmmmm, ¿Israel? Yes, it’s seem so.
Saludos.
Posted by Sumud | January 16, 2009, 11:44 am” Hamas is not the cause of the problem – it is the occupation.”
Tyranny is the problem. If Arabs opposed tyranny, they would fight against would-be totalitarians like Hezbollah and Hamas – and Gazans would never suffer from periodic Israeli occupations or bombs.
Posted by Solomon2 | January 16, 2009, 1:11 pmHamas was just a resistance group…
I stopped reading there. Kalash, you seem like one of the more sane contributers here. You are Iraqi, correct? How can you call a group that has perpetrated more suicide bombings than can be easily counted, and proudly takes credit for them, a “resistance” group? Did you (and do you) support the people who have been doing the same, in Iraq?
Posted by programmer craig | January 16, 2009, 5:40 pmThe writer of this is severely lacking in the intelligence department.
But sadly, this point of view seems to be the general consensus of all Kabobers – which isn’t too surprising considering the the shitty way in which they handle Palestinian activism. Too much pride in being a keyboard warrior if you ask me.
Posted by david | January 16, 2009, 6:37 pmHamas and every other Palestinian declared war on Israel for the brutal military occupation that has been ongoing for several decades(which is also an act of war according to most people and international law). End the occupation, end the blockade, then and only then will Israel solve its problem. What does Israel think? That people are just going to sit around and accept a brutal military occupation and not fight back? Either give in to the demands of all Palestinian groups (Hamas included) which are the 67 borders (literally 1/4 of historic Palestine; Hamas is only asking for 1/4 of their original homeland; Hamas the most radical group amongst the Palestinians is only asking for 1/4 of their original homeland). If Israel cant stomach giving back just 1/4th of the land it stole it will have to give all the people Israel occupies Israeli citizenship, thus creating 1 state for both peoples. Its either one or the other. Israel has to make the choice. BTW Hamas dropped its call for the destruction of Israel; so you all can stop peddling that lie. (this was also mentioned in Kalash's post which you all obviously did not read.)http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jan/12/israe…
Posted by Super Sayyin | January 17, 2009, 8:57 amYes, it’s seem so.
It seems so to you, but they do at least claim that they were firing on military attackers.
Hamas, on the other hand, can’t even pretend not to be terrorists. So, since you agree with the definition, you agree that Hamas is a terrorist organization. Thank you.
Posted by Roy | January 19, 2009, 7:37 amEnd the occupation, end the blockade, then and only then will Israel solve its problem.
Again, you speak as if you/Hamas/Palestinians hold the power. Your delusions are not helping your people.
Posted by Roy | January 19, 2009, 7:38 amEnd the occupation and the blockade and Israel can finally enjoy peace.
Whats the problem with that picture? Palestinians of all backgrounds agree that the occupation is what makes their lives miserable.
If there was no occupation their would be no resistance to Israel.
So what is Israel waiting for? Unless its not interested in peace.
Posted by Arayus | January 25, 2009, 5:31 pm