Hamas: Difference between revisions
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Beginning in the late 1960s, Hamas's founder and spiritual leader,, preached and did charitable work in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both of which were occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1973, Yassin established | Beginning in the late 1960s, Hamas's founder and spiritual leader,, preached and did charitable work in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both of which were occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1973, Yassin established | ||
== | ==Palestinian politics== | ||
After defeating Fatah, the party of the PA's president, Mahmoud Abbas, there has been a struggle for political dominance. | After defeating Fatah, the party of the PA's president, Mahmoud Abbas, there has been a struggle for political dominance. | ||
Fatah sent a unity proposal to Hamas in October 2009, which is being mediated by Egypt. One difficult point is that Hamas wants a clause that allows it to resist Israel.<ref>{{citation | |||
| Hamas seeking changes to Palestine unity accord | |||
| date = 16 October 2009 | |||
| url = http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/hamas-seeking-changes-to-palestine-unity-accord-20091016-h15o.html | journal = Brisbane Times}}</ref> | |||
==Military and terror operations== | ==Military and terror operations== | ||
Its military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, carry out [[suicide attack]]s and [[unguided rocket|rocket]] and [[mortar]] strikes against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. Geographically, its operations focus on Israel and the [[Occupied Territories]]. <ref name=FAS>{{citation | Its military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, carry out [[suicide attack]]s and [[unguided rocket|rocket]] and [[mortar]] strikes against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. Geographically, its operations focus on Israel and the [[Occupied Territories]]. <ref name=FAS>{{citation | ||
Revision as of 10:42, 16 October 2009
Hamas, Arabic for "zeal" and also an acronym "Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya," or Islamic Resistance Movement is the largest and most influential Palestinian militant movement. It won the January 2006 Palestinian Authority's (PA) general legislative elections.[1] Its greatest strength has been in Gaza, but it also has a significant following in the West Bank.
Like Hezbollah, it traditionally has had both a social services and a military wing. Hamas refuses to recognize the State of Israel, which has responded with economic sanction, and, in response to attacks on Israel, with military action.
Origins
Its leadership, including founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin came from the Muslim Brotherhood. He created, in 1973, al-Mujamma' al-Islami (the Islamic Center) to coordinate the Muslim Brotherhood's political activities in Gaza. Yassin founded Hamas as the Muslim Brotherhood's local political arm in December 1987, following the eruption of the first intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli control of the West Bank and Gaza. Hamas published its official charter in 1988, moving decidedly away from the Muslim Brotherhood's ethos of nonviolence.[1]
Beginning in the late 1960s, Hamas's founder and spiritual leader,, preached and did charitable work in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, both of which were occupied by Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War. In 1973, Yassin established
Palestinian politics
After defeating Fatah, the party of the PA's president, Mahmoud Abbas, there has been a struggle for political dominance.
Fatah sent a unity proposal to Hamas in October 2009, which is being mediated by Egypt. One difficult point is that Hamas wants a clause that allows it to resist Israel.[2]
Military and terror operations
Its military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, carry out suicide attacks and rocket and mortar strikes against Israeli civilian and military targets. In the early 1990s, they also targeted suspected Palestinian collaborators and Fatah rivals. Geographically, its operations focus on Israel and the Occupied Territories. <ref name=FAS>{{citation
| url = http://fas.org/irp/world/para/hamas.htm | title = Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) | publisher = Federation of American Scientists
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Backgrounder: Hamas, Council on Foreign Relations
- ↑ Brisbane Times, 16 October 2009