Introduction
Since
the beginning of the Palestinian uprising of 1987 the Palestinian arena
has been the object of massive and dramatic developments domestically,
regionally and internationally.
On
the international level, the convening of the Madrid conference in October
1991 was a major turning point, not only in the Palestinian-Israeli
conflict but also in the way the conflict was viewed and dealt with
by the two superpowers at the time. This eventually resulted in the
United States hosting the two main protagonists to the conflict, Israel
and the PLO, to sign a document of mutual recognition in Washington,
DC on the 13th of September 1993.
On
the regional level, Iraq's takeover of Kuwait in August 1990 and the
consequent outbreak of the Gulf War in January 1991 resulted, among
other things, in re-shuffling the question of Palestine, demographically,
economically and most certainly politically. The PLO found itself struggling
with competing political interests in the Arab world which led to a
deepening of its isolation, whilst massive waves of Palestinian workers
from the Gulf flooded the Jordanian economy.
On
the domestic level, the intifada contributed to the mobilization of
the society, for some time at least, in spite of heavy losses incurred
in terms of human resources, as well as in terms of infrastructural
development. However, the outbreak of the uprising was parallelled by
another equally important development which was the formation and launch
of the Islamic Resistance Movement - Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya,
the acronym of which is Hamas. The evolution of Hamas in the midst of
very complicated political, psychological, economic and social conditions
has affected the fabric of Palestinian society as much, if not more
than the intifada itself.
Today Hamas presents itself as a alternative to the PLO. It already enjoys the support of 30-40% of public opinion and has sought to advance its claim by competing with secularist groups both institutionally and at grass roots level. Since its inception the
movement has tried to muster authority on the ground by publishing its
own covenant
[1]
and other material and through institutionalizing its own
programs which have not necessarily been consistent with those that
secularist trends have tried to implement. How and why Hamas has gathered
such support and the implications this has for both Palestinian and
Israeli societies, the Arab region and the international community are
now vital questions.
In
order to make any prediction about the future of Middle East peace,
the aims, position and influence of the Hamas movement in Palestine
at the present time must be examined, especially bearing in mind its
intentions following the signing of the Israeli/PLO Declaration Of Principles
in September 1993. To place this in proper context, careful consideration
of its background and development is essential. Hamas, after all was
not born in a vacuum. While it is true that it emerged as a seemingly
new organisation in Palestinian society in the midst of that critical
time which was the beginning of the intifada, Hamas was intricately
connected to an earlier movement which had already left its mark on
this society. Even the most cursory examination of the structure and
politico‑religious programs of Hamas indicate its strong links
to the Muslim Brotherhood movement. Indeed, Hamas itself makes no secret
of the fact that it serves as an extension of the Brotherhood, albeit
in a violent military manner. The Muslim Brotherhood, which was formed
in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan Al‑Banna spread its influence over
the years to most other Arab countries. The growth of Hamas is directly
related to the diversification of the Muslim Brotherhood in several
Arab countries, particularly since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war which sent
shock waves throughout the community especially given the increased
rhetoric of Arab unity and strength which had preceded it. This discouragement
provided an excellent opportunity for Islamic forces to publicize the
notion that Islam was the only true path to victory.
[2]
Over
the past few years, Hamas has undergone a fundamental transformation
in the way it has been operating as well as in the manner it has been
projecting itself to the outside world. From originally being the underground
military wing of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas leapt into public and
political life in late 1987 using the springboard provided by the intifada.
In doing so it created the strongest Islamic resistance force in the
Occupied Territories and gave the first true challenge to the dominant
nationalist trends that had characterized the Palestinian political
struggle until that point. Hamas is now a fully-fledged political movement
which has effectively overshadowed its parent organization the Muslim
Brotherhood, and which commands support rivalling that of Fateh in areas
such as the Gaza Strip.
[3]
While Hamas has undergone this transformation partly by injecting
religious teachings and convictions in Palestinian society, ostensibly
to bring about that society's salvation, more importantly, it has sown
the seeds for a markedly significant political transformation in this
society as, it is hoped, this study will demonstrate. The
study charts the rise of Hamas, considering in some detail its historical
and political background as a movement and the social and economic background
of the individuals within it. The national, regional and international
factors affecting the growth of the movement are then examined and the
methods it has employed to garner mass support and its relationship
to other relevant forces studied. It is hoped that in conclusion some
predictions may be made as to how the future of Hamas will affect the
future of the Middle East and the prospects for peace in the region.
In
conducting this research the author relies on original and secondary
published works but his primary source of information is interviews
with Hamas leaders, activists and supporters.
The
significance of this study stems from the fact that Hamas is now a political
force to be reckoned with in the volatile Palestinian arena. Hamas might
indeed try to assume full control over the society, a development which
would have profound ramifications were it to occur.
Policy
makers and scholars particularly, but also the general reader with an
interest in the future of the Middle East, will find this study an invaluable
insight into the origins, programme and future direction of the movement.
It is quite conceivable that its impact could be more far reaching than
the domestic level alone, resulting in reverberations throughout the
rest of the Arab world and the international community.
[1]
For the full text of the Covenant
of the Islamic Resistance Movement, see Appendix I.
[2]
Jaradat. Muhammed, "Islamic
Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the territories occupied in 1967."
News From Within. Vol. VIII - No. 8. August 5th 1992. pp 7-11.
[3]
Abu-Amr. Ziad, "Hamas:
A Historical and Political Background." Journal of Palestine
Studies. Volume XXII. Number 4. Summer 1993. pp 5.
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