UPDATES

Hamas still committed to Israel’s destruction, despite unity deal

Jun 3, 2014 | Sharyn Mittelman

Hamas still committed to Israel’s destruction
news_item/PA-Hamas_photo.jpg

A new Palestinian unity government was sworn in on Monday, following an agreement struck between Fatah and Hamas on April 23 to end years of division. The Palestinian Authority (PA) split in two in June 2007, after Hamas forces kicked Fatah out of the Gaza Strip in battles that left over 100 dead and 500 wounded.

Israel is reportedly disappointed that the US has said it will work with the Palestinian unity government, despite the fact that Hamas is considered a terrorist group in the US, and remains committed to Israel’s destruction through violent “resistance”.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas claims that the 17 ministers in the new unity government are technocrats who are not identified with any political party, and that the new government’s platform will declare acceptance of the terms of the Middle East Quartet – recognition of Israel, rejection of terror, and honouring previously signed agreements.

However, as Or Avi-Guy documented in a recent post, Hamas has said repeatedly, since the preliminary Hamas-Fatah agreement in late April, that it completely rejects the conditions set by the Quartet (and even some Fatah leaders have also been embracing violent rejectionism), and will never renounce violence or recognise Israel’s right to exist. Yet Hamas has stated that the unity government means “partnership in decision making and politics”, and as recently as Sunday the US said it was concerned by the role that Hamas would play in the new government.

If anyone is unsure as to whether Hamas still retains its commitment to Israel’s destruction through violent “resistance”, they only need to look at the comments reportedly made by Hamas in recent days.

For example, Hamas’ “former” Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told Al-Aqsa TV on May 29:

“We think that the path of negotiations and peace talks has reached a dead end and that the resistance [Intifada, 2000-2005], which liberated Gaza and defended Gaza, can liberate the West Bank and the rest of the Palestinian lands, Allah willing. Those who liberated Gaza, with the help of Allah, can liberate Jerusalem, the West Bank and the rest of Palestine.”

Moreover, on May 28 Palestinian news agency Ma’an quoted Haniyeh explaining the new “partnership”:

“The Prime Minister of the deposed [Hamas] government, Ismail Haniyeh, said tonight, Wednesday, that the [Fatah and Hamas] reconciliation does not signify [merely] the end of the split, but rather, a new period based on real partnership in decision-making and politics… Haniyeh said: ‘[Reconciliation] also means real partnership in the institution of leadership, adherence to the national principles, protection of the resistance project, protection of the weapon of resistance, and [joint] action with all our people for the release of the prisoners and Jerusalem.'”

And on May 28 Haniyeh explained to a crowd the reasons behind reconciliation with Fatah, according to Al-Hayat Al-Jadida:

“[Hamas Prime Minister] Ismail Haniyeh, told a large crowd of [Hamas] supporters in Rafah earlier yesterday that the reconciliation is meant to unify the Palestinian people against the main enemy, ‘the Zionist enemy,’ and to continue with the option of resistance and resolve.”

Given Hamas’ stance and its claim to have an equal “partnership in decision-making and politics”, it remains to be seen how the unity government can possibly be committed to the Quartet’s principles in practice, despite whatever verbal assurances may be offered.

Sharyn Mittelman

 

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Screenshot from a video showing radical Israeli rioters torching Palestinian homes in the West Bank town of Huwara (Image: Twitter)

West Bank unrest escalates following violent riots by Jewish protesters in Huwara

Mar 1, 2023 | Update
The Iranian regime has been releasing some of the thousands of political prisoners arrested during the recent anti-regime protests. But the world should recognise that this is not a genuine change of heart, but a ruse, according to the author. (Image: Shutterstock, Novikov Aleksey)

Lessons from the Iranian protests

Feb 20, 2023 | Update
“Juniper Oak” logo. Credit: Israel Defense Forces

“Juniper Oak”: A Message to Iran?

Feb 10, 2023 | Update
The aftermath of the fatal terror attack in Jerusalem (Image: Twitter)

Heinous terror in Jerusalem

Feb 3, 2023 | Update
Israel's Supreme Court sitting earlier this month. Plans for judicial reforms that would limit the power of the Court have stirred intense debate in Israel. (Image: Eddie Gerald / Alamy Stock Photo)

Israel debates proposed judicial reforms

Jan 24, 2023 | Update
Image: Shutterstock

Evolving debates about Iran policy

Jan 17, 2023 | Update

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

The dancers who celebrated israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948 were in effect celebrating a major turning point in the long history of the Jewish people (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Dancing through History – a love story

Karam Taher as the title character in Farha (Screenshot)

Cinefile: Art or Propaganda?

1948 05 14 D410 054

Israel’s first 75 years: 15 Memorable Moments

Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters display their intentions towards Israel at a rally in Gaza City, October 2022 (Image: Anas Mohammed/Shutterstock)

Iranian proxies threaten during Ramadan

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a graduation ceremony of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Teheran, Iran (Image: Salampix/ABACA Press/TNS/Alamy Live News)

Australia should harden its response to Iran’s hostility

The dancers who celebrated israel’s Declaration of Independence in 1948 were in effect celebrating a major turning point in the long history of the Jewish people (Image: Wikimedia Commons)

Dancing through History – a love story

Karam Taher as the title character in Farha (Screenshot)

Cinefile: Art or Propaganda?

1948 05 14 D410 054

Israel’s first 75 years: 15 Memorable Moments

Palestinian Islamic Jihad fighters display their intentions towards Israel at a rally in Gaza City, October 2022 (Image: Anas Mohammed/Shutterstock)

Iranian proxies threaten during Ramadan

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a graduation ceremony of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Teheran, Iran (Image: Salampix/ABACA Press/TNS/Alamy Live News)

Australia should harden its response to Iran’s hostility

SORT BY TOPICS