Hamas says: We’re not gonna change

The AP has a remarkably plain-talking article about Hamas’ rejectionism.

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – Following their resounding election victory, the Islamic militants of Hamas met the question of whether they will change their stripes with a loud “no”: no recognition of Israel, no negotiations, no renunciation of terror.

Wow. That’s about as plain as you can get it: The three no’s, in the first paragraph.

But the world holds out hope that international pressure can make them more moderate. At stake is the future of Mideast peacemaking, billions of dollars in aid and the Palestinians’ relationship with Israel, the United States and Europe.

Yes, because the world is full of fools. And later, the AP proves it is full of fools, too. Although the headline states clearly that Hamas refuses to change, much of the article is devoted to the writer bending all over himself to make it seem like Hamas is going to become more moderate.

An interview with an up-and-coming young Hamas leader in a dusty Gaza Strip field revealed how the organization’s slant could shift.

Mushir al-Masri said renouncing the “armed struggle” and negotiating with Israel are “not on Hamas’ agenda” because a decade of talking won the Palestinians nothing.

“We cannot waste 10 more years when the last 10 years failed to realize even the minimum amount of Palestinian hopes,” he said.

But when an aide tried to put a green Hamas sash over al-Masri’s shoulder before a TV interview, the 29-year-old newly elected lawmaker shooed him away. “You should bring me the Palestinian flag,” he said, reflecting his movement’s stated desire to represent all Palestinians.

Follow that logic? Hamas is going to moderate its stance because a spokesman said to use palestinian insignia, not Hamas. Get it?

No, neither do I.

By all accounts, Palestinians didn’t choose Hamas because they reject peace talks with Israel but rather because they were fed up with graft in the ruling Fatah Party. Hamas candidates ran on a platform of clean government, largely de-emphasizing their militant credentials.

That’s because the media are all lying to us and to themselves.

If Hamas truly wants to moderate its stance, all it has to do is stop saying it won’t, you know, moderate its stance. How difficult is that to understand?

Yes, I know. It’s very difficult to understand for some, because they think when Hamas says they will not recognize Israel, nor negotiate with her, nor have peace with her, they think that they’re just kidding.

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3 Responses to Hamas says: We’re not gonna change

  1. Ben F says:

    Hamas candidates ran on a platform of clean government, largely de-emphasizing their militant credentials.

    I’ve seen this sort of statement over and over in the MSM, emphasizing the absence of any express call in the platform for the elimination of Israel. It’s always struck me as dubious, but I was having a lot of difficulty locating a copy of the platform in order to confirm my suspicions. Until now.

    Here are some excerpts that the Jerusalem Post published on January 26:

    The Change and reform List adopts a number of approaches to fulfill fixed aims emanating from Islamic references – namely:

    1. Islam is our Reference.

    2. Palestine is Arab and Muslim Land.

    3. Palestinians are one nation regardless of location.

    4. The Palestinian People are still in the process of National Liberation and have the right to use all means including armed struggle to achieve this goal.

    5. The right of return to all Palestinians.

    6. Adherence to the inalienable rights of the people.

    7. Protect and cement National Unity as a priority.

    8. The issue of prisoners and detainees tops the agenda ; on the internal policy level the C&R aims at achieving a great number of objectives – among them: Maintaining Palestinian fixed National Aims; Palestinian presence in Jerusalem; political freedom; dialogue as a means to solving internal differences; freedom of expression; assembling movement.

    9. The platform of the C&R prohibits: Political detention; shedding Palestinian blood; protection of civil society; directing the security apparatus to safeguarding the security of the citizens.

    Among other things the Platform calls for protecting the “Resistance” and enhancing its role to resist Occupation and achieve Liberation. The C&R will also build a normal Palestinian individual who takes pride in his religion, land, freedom and dignity and is ready to sacrifice for them.

    The C&R will continue to resist the erection of the Racist Wall and it will seek its destruction.

    This is all of the usual stuff, mirroring key provisions of the 1968 PLO Covenant, and appears in the opening portion of the platform, well before the sections addressing “clean government” issues.

    To my eye, this platform CLEARLY STATES that HAMAS will work to prepare the populace for the struggle to end the Zionist occupation of all land between the Jordan and the Mediterranean.

  2. Rahel says:

    And not only that. Hamas has also stated its intent to pass a law mandating head coverings for all women and separate-sex classes in all schools.

    I have no quarrel with the idea of women choosing to cover their hair or that of parents choosing to send their children to single-sex schools. But Hamas’s intent is that there will be no choice.

  3. Ben F says:

    Rahel—Ignore your eyes and ears and repeat after me: “There is no compulsion in religion. There is no compulsion in religion. There is no compulsion in religion.”

    Besides, maybe the six Christians in the new parliament will be able to make their voices heard on this subject.

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