Israel Created the Conditions for Hamas's Success: Why Hamas Won

[RJnAbbysNana]

February 7, 2006

Israel Created the Conditions for Hamas's Success
Why Hamas Won

By NEVE GORDON


Although it is still unclear what the future holds for Israelis and Palestinians, a few things can be said about the processes that enabled Hamas to win a landslide victory in the January 25 democratic elections and how the organizationís triumph will likely affect the local political arena.

Founded in Gaza at the beginning of the first Intifada (December 1987) by Sheik Ahmad Yassin, Hamas is a direct extension of the Muslim Brotherhood. Although in the media Hamas tends to be identified with its military arm, Izzeddin al-Qassam, which is well known for its suicide attacks against Israeli targets, the organizationís popularity in the Occupied Territories actually stems from its being seen as the voice of Palestinian dignity and the symbol of the defense of Palestinian rights at a time of unprecedented hardship, humiliation, and despair.

People who voted for Hamas emphasize not only the heroic acts of its combatants, but also its reputation for clean conduct, modesty, and honesty, which have been pointedly contrasted with the corruption of the Palestinian Authority. Many of its followers do not subscribe to religious fundamentalism, but rather support the organization due to its pragmatic approach characterized by support for the short-term objective of a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, while still maintaining the long-term goal of establishing an Islamic state that would replace Israel and offer a solution to the Palestinian refugee problem.

Most importantly, perhaps, Hamas acquired much of its political credit from its charity and social service networks. It built kindergartens and schools (that offer free meals for children), education centers for women, and youth and sports clubs. Its medical clinics provide subsidized treatment to the sick and the organization extends financial and technical assistance to those whose homes had been demolished as well as to refugees living in sub-standard conditions.

In other words, Hamas was elected not only because it is considered an alternative to the corrupt Palestinian Authority, but also because Israel created the conditions that made it an indispensable social movement.

cont..........

http://www.counterpunch.org/gordon02072006.html

[pelsar]

1. israels at fault....

those palestenains cant even vote on their own.....even then they do israelis bidding......doesnt say much for the palestenian society....

minor detail: secular and religious palestenians who actually voted, have a different point of view..but what do they know, they just did the voting.....

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[pelsar]

6. because...

i actually listen to what people in the middle east actually say....and they have a bit of a different view then those who live in the west and live in some kind of fantasy world

but incase you didnt understand the article..it explains how hamas started (muslim brotherhood, how fatah was a failure, and how hamas filled in....and then says its israels fault......

no connection what so ever.....but wth, lets blame israel anyway

[populistdriven]

2. I told my coworker exactly the same thing last week

[Selatius]

3. There was nobody else for which to vote. Who else could they vote?

If they had a Gandhi-like figure in the Palestinian Territories leading the campaign to end the occupation and remove the colonies, they probably would've voted for him, but no such figure exists. All they had was Hamas and a corrupt Palestinian Authority.

My best recommendation to Hamas is to recognize Israel's right to exist, at least as far as the 1967 borders go. The land colonized since then should, and ought to be returned to Palestinians. Those colonies and access roads/checkpoints linking those colonies should be dismantled, and the colonists should be returned to Israel proper, imho. A democratic independent state in the Palestinian Territories is still a good goal, but it's not possible if it's bisected by high cement walls, guard towers, and barb wire.

[barb162]

8. You're wrong, how about the party of the ex PA Finance Minister

He was doing good things for the Palestinians, trying to get the "books" straightened out, getting some semblance of financial responsibility, etc.

Salaam Fayad is the name...good guy in my opinion

[barb162]

5. Fatah's corruption had NOTHING to do with it?

[barb162]

7. Meant to add, how about the number of candidates Fatah ran

in the various districts

[bemildred]

9. Today's "No Shit Sherlock" award. nt

[Wordie]

10. LOL...pithy as always, bemildred. eom