Hamas 'seeks dialogue with West'

[Janus]

BBC News

Hamas' nominee for Palestinian prime minister, Ismail Haniya, has called on the West to open a dialogue with the militant group.
Addressing the Palestinian parliament, he also put forward Hamas' platform for government and its cabinet list, which is expected to be voted in on Tuesday.

Mr Haniya said Hamas was ready to talk to international mediators about solving the Middle East conflict.

But he made no concession to Western demands to soften its hardline agenda.

The US and European countries have said they will not deal with Hamas - which won a surprise landslide victory in Palestinian elections in January, and which they classify as a terrorist group - unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel.

But the militant movement says recognising Israel would mean accepting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

Plea to Quartet

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says Mr Haniya's speech was relaxed, confident and wide-ranging.
Mr Haniya, who was in Gaza, delivered his speech by video link to assembly members in Ramallah in the West Bank, as Israel bans Hamas leaders from travelling between the West Bank and Gaza for security reasons.

His speech came on the eve of Israeli elections.

The prime minister-designate urged the international community not to punish the Palestinian people for electing a Hamas government, but to put pressure on Israel to end its occupation.

The EU was the largest single donor to the Palestinians in 2005, but it has warned future aid will depend on Hamas showing a commitment to work for peace.

Mr Haniya said donors would be able to monitor how the money was spent.

He also called for dialogue with the international mediators known as the Quartet - the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia.

"The government is ready for dialogue with the Quartet," Mr Haniya said.

"The European Union has provided a lot of aid to our people, and supported our right for freedom... We are interested in a strong relation with Europe."

Gaza violence

Earlier, security sources in the Gaza Strip said Israeli troops killed a Palestinian militant as he and two others tried to launch a homemade rocket at Israel from the town of Beit Hanoun.

The Israeli military fired on the three from a tank and an aircraft as they approached the perimeter fence.

The dead man was a member of the Islamic Jihad militant group.

Islamic Jihad frequently fires crudely-made rockets into Israel from the Gaza Strip, saying the attacks are in retaliation for Israeli army actions in the occupied West Bank.

[Intifada]

Since winning the recent Palestinian elections, everything Hamas has said about possible peace talks has been utterly correct and legitimate.

Instead of demanding that Hamas "renounce violence and recognise Israel", the international community should be pushing for the Israelis to finally recognise Palestinian rights and the sheer illegality of their occupation of Palestinian territory.

[Severian]

In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.

[*PRC*Kensei]

viva hamas.

[Kaze]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 03:27 AM
In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.
palestinians have been getting screwed since the zionists set up camp on their soil... nothings ever going to change because theres not one country in the world that cares sufficiently about poor people to do anything about it, especially with america and israel equating every single bit of anti-israeli talk with antisemitism..

take the case of the establishment of israel would it actually take a country trying to wipe out all the arabs of the world to motivate the UN into taking action regarding the establshiment of a palestinian state?

israel makes me so angry it is the single "best" example of how the west treats the rest of the world.

[Intifada]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 03:27 AM
In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.
Indeed.

Hamas and the Palestinians are in a lose-lose situation.

Hopefully Hamas will continue the stance it has taken on the issue of peace talks with Israel, whilst continuing the ceasefire it has kept for a year.

[Janus]

Hamas has won a parliamentary vote of confidence.


Originally posted by BBC News
Palestinian militant group Hamas has won a parliamentary vote of confidence, clearing the way for it to take power.

The new administration will be sworn in on Wednesday, two months after Hamas' surprise election victory.

Incoming Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said this week that Hamas was ready to talk to international mediators about solving the Middle East conflict.

But the group rejects international pressure to renounce violence and recognise Israel's right to exist.

Western donors are threatening to halt aid to the Palestinian Authority unless Hamas amends its anti-Israel policies.

The Palestinian parliament voted 71-36 to approve Hamas' government agenda and cabinet list. There were two abstentions.

Video-link

The vote in the West Bank town of Ramallah came as Israelis went to the polls in a general election widely expected to be won by interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

Israeli travel restrictions means Palestinian MPs in the Gaza Strip and West Bank will have to take part in parliament sessions via video-link.

On Tuesday, Mr Haniya presented his administration's plans via video-link, urging the international community not to punish the Palestinian people for electing a Hamas government, but to put pressure on Israel to end its occupation.

Israel, the US and EU all classify as a terrorist group and have said they will not deal with Hamas unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel.

But the militant movement says recognising Israel would mean accepting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

Hamas has carried out dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis although it has been observing an informal truce since last year.

[mo7amEd]

Originally posted by [email protected] 28 2006, 03:27 AM
In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.
How do you think Hamas is dealing with the situation? Is there something they are doing right or something they should change?

I'm not asking for knowledge, I'm just asking for your oppinion. Thanks in advance

[Severian]

Originally posted by Intifada+Mar 28 2006, 09:09 AM--> (Intifada @ Mar 28 2006, 09:09 AM)
[email protected] 28 2006, 03:27 AM
In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.
Indeed.

Hamas and the Palestinians are in a lose-lose situation.

Hopefully Hamas will continue the stance it has taken on the issue of peace talks with Israel, whilst continuing the ceasefire it has kept for a year. [/b]
Hmmm...you agree that Palestinians are screwed, then hope Hamas will continue doing the same thing? This does not exactly make sense.

[Severian]

Originally posted by mo7amEd+Mar 28 2006, 06:03 PM--> (mo7amEd @ Mar 28 2006, 06:03 PM)
[email protected] 28 2006, 03:27 AM
In the real world, however, they will not do any of the things Hamas has so-politely asked for. And Hamas has no plan to deal with this reality.

Which means Palestinians are screwed.
How do you think Hamas is dealing with the situation? Is there something they are doing right or something they should change?

I'm not asking for knowledge, I'm just asking for your oppinion. Thanks in advance [/b]
I think they're not dealing with the situation. I won't claim to have the answer - it's certainly not an easy situation, and I don't believe in tactical advice from afar.

An answer can only arise from the struggle, and at this point I think only from some new organization or leadership.

Hamas has just run into the limit of what can be accomplished with its narrow overall perspective, its repertoire of tactics, etc. Add to that the fact that the second intifada has run out of steam, that Palestinians voted for Hamas more as a protest vote than out of real agreement with its perspective, that Gaza is thoroughly fenced in and the West Bank is on the way....

I previously went into this in this thread. (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=45454&st=25)

[mo7amEd]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2006, 11:24 AM
I think they're not dealing with the situation. I won't claim to have the answer - it's certainly not an easy situation, and I don't believe in tactical advice from afar.

An answer can only arise from the struggle, and at this point I think only from some new organization or leadership.

Hamas has just run into the limit of what can be accomplished with its narrow overall perspective, its repertoire of tactics, etc. Add to that the fact that the second intifada has run out of steam, that Palestinians voted for Hamas more as a protest vote than out of real agreement with its perspective, that Gaza is thoroughly fenced in and the West Bank is on the way....

I previously went into this in this thread. (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=45454&st=25)
I've read it, and there is things I would say that I wouldn't agree with. But I'm not going to start a new disussion, since this has already been discussed.

[Janus]

Leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas have taken formal control of the government after being sworn in by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.


Originally posted by BBC News
Ismail Haniya was sworn in as prime minister by Mr Abbas in Gaza, while several other ministers took the oath in the West Bank via video link.

The government faces serious problems - failing law and order, a broken economy and a society awash with weapons.

And it faces alienation from the US and EU, which say it is a terrorist group.

The Palestinian authorities have been heavily dependent on aid, especially from the European Union, which has demanded that Hamas soften its hardline anti-Israeli stance to qualify for continued funding.

Meanwhile the winner of the Israeli election, acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of the Kadima party, says he wants to annex parts of the West Bank to create the final borders of Israel, with or without reference to the Palestinians.

As the Palestinian parliament voted to accept Mr Haniya's cabinet on Tuesday, he said Hamas was ready for "dialogue" with international mediators about solving the Middle East conflict, and wanted "strong relations with Europe".

But he made no concession to Western demands to renounce violence and recognise Israel.

Oath

The new prime minister was the first to take the oath of office in front of the Palestinian leader in Gaza.
Hamas leaders are banned from crossing Israeli territory to get to the parliament in Ramallah in the West Bank.

"I swear by gracious God to be faithful to the homeland and its consecrated sites, the people and its national heritage, to respect the constitutional system and law and to take care fully of the interests of the Palestinian people," he said.

The other members of the 24-strong cabinet, including one woman, then stepped forward.

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says the new Palestinian government faces many problems with a severe lack of experience.

None of its ministers has been in government before and they will take over ministries packed with officials loyal to the Fatah party, Hamas' bitter political rival.

However, Hamas is always disciplined, determined and focused, says our correspondent, and it is often a mistake to underestimate it.

Most Palestinians want it to succeed, and there will be crucial support from the Muslim world, where many people would like to see this Islamist government triumph over the Israeli and American efforts to break it.

With no prospect that Hamas will soften its anti-Israeli stance, however, the relationship with Israel can be expected to sink to new lows, our correspondent says.

NEW PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT
Prime Minister: Ismail Haniya
Deputy PM & Education: Nasser al-Din al-Shair
Finance: Omar Abd al-Raziq
Foreign: Mahmoud Zahhar
Interior: Said al-Siyam
Justice: Ahmed al-Khalidi
Culture: Atallah Abu al-Sibah
Information: Youssef Rizqa
Health: Basim Naim
Religious affairs: Nayif al-Rujub
Labour: Mohammed al-Barghouti
Women's affairs: Mariam Salih

[Intifada]

Originally posted by [email protected] 29 2006, 11:12 AM
Hmmm...you agree that Palestinians are screwed, then hope Hamas will continue doing the same thing? This does not exactly make sense.
Hamas cannot afford to further alienate themselves from the international community, for the sake of the Palestinian people.

The stance it has taken so far, in demanding that Israel recognise Palestinian rights, is all it can do, whilst resuming a campaign against Israeli civilians would only result in more misery for the Palestinian people. By continuing their ceasefire, the Hamas government cannot be accused of supporting "terrorism".

I think now more than ever, it is important that activists in the West continue to raise awareness of the illegal occupation and Israeli agression towards Palestinians. Hopefully the Palestinians can continue their direct action against the occupation forces.

The "lose-lose situation" is a result of the abandonment of the Palestinian people by the international community.

[Janus]

Originally posted by BBC News
International mediators have told the new Hamas-led Palestinian government that it must recognise Israel if it wants to be guaranteed continued aid.
The Quartet of the US, the EU, Russia and the UN said aid would "inevitably" be affected as long as Hamas failed to renounce violence.

Hamas won elections in January, and its new cabinet was sworn in on Wednesday.

After the ceremony, Canada became the first country to freeze funding and end contact with the administration.

The US and European countries have demanded that Hamas soften its hardline agenda, but the militant movement says recognising Israel would mean accepting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

The Quartet had previously said it would wait to see what form the Hamas-led government would take before making any decision on funding.

All the major ministries in the new government are held by Hamas members.

Depends on aid

In its statement, the Quartet called on the new government "to commit to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations".

"Future assistance to any new government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to the principles," it added.

The Quartet statement is bleak but does not make any final pronouncement, as nearly everyone involved is keen that Hamas should be given room to shift, says the BBC's Europe correspondent Jonny Dymond.
In response, the new Palestinian government urged the Quartet to review its position.

"The Europeans and others supported holding elections so, ethically, they should accept and respect the choice of the Palestinian people," Samir Abu Eisha, Minister of Planning, told the Reuters news agency.


"Their position will have dire consequences for the Palestinian people," he said.

The Palestinian Authority depends on foreign aid.

It has received about $1bn a year in aid from the EU and US since its foundation in 1994.

Hamas' new Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, was sworn in with his cabinet by the Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas, on Wednesday night.

Commenting on the Canadian decision, Hamas officials said the country had acted in an undemocratic and hasty manner.

The militant group said it would turn to the Islamic world to make up any shortfall in funding from the West.

[Severian]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2006, 10:17 AM
The "lose-lose situation" is a result of the abandonment of the Palestinian people by the international community.
The "international community" is in practice just a pseudonym for the imperialist powers.

For years, Arafat pursued a strategy that relied on begging for the help of the 'international community' - principally hoping that Washington would restrain Tel Aviv. This failed.

Apparently Hamas, after years of presenting itself as the militant alternative to Arafat, can do no better, or even different. And of course it's less well equipped to pursue this strategy.

I don't know what the next effective strategy will be, but I know a few things it'll have to do if the struggle is going to move forward from here:

Any effective strategy will have to mobilize millions of Palestinians - in the occupied territories, in Israel, and in the Palestinian Diaspora. That was the great importance of the first intifada - that so many Palestinians stepped forward as active makers of history.

It will have to prioritize building an international solidarity movement - like the movement to isolate the South African apartheid regime - over diplomacy with imperialist governments.

And the whole two-state demand may soon outlive its usefulness - when the Israeli regime finished unilaterally implementing its caricatured version of a "two-state solution."

But Hamas - though formally committed to one state in the whole of historic Palestine - is the least equipped to actually fight for it. Because it is committed to saying that state would be an Islamic state.

There'd potentially be great power to an anti-apartheid movement - which demands equal rights for all those disenfranchised Palestinians living under the rule of a supposedly democratic Israel. Israel fears this, which is why it is moving to get rid of enough territory so that Palestinians will not be a majority in the territory it directly rules anytime soon.

But that kind of movement has to demand a democratic state with equal rights for people of all religions and nationalities - while Hamas is committed to the opposite.

[Intifada]

I agree with everything you wrote.

[Severian]

Um...good.

The other interesting thing going on - is Fatah seems to be trying to sabotage Hamas, by doing some of the things Hamas used to do. It's like a role reversal on both sides.

Hamas is on ceasefire - and the Al-Aqsa Brigades conducts a suicide attack on settlers. So far Hamas is declining to enforce its ceasefire on others, as Fatah used to - that would leave 'em open to charges of collaborationism.

But if their ceasefire doesn't bind all Palestinians, that leaves 'em open to retaliation by Israel. Certainly makes it improbable Israel will give 'em anything in exchange for a prolonged ceasefire.

Then some Fatah people apparently assassinated a Hamas leader in Gaza. Probably upset about their loss of PA patronage. Sheer corruption.

***

It should also be recognized the military situation has become less favorable to Palestinians. Throughout the second intifada, few or no Palestinian suicide bombers from Gaza have reached targets inside Israel. Why? 'Cause Gaza was thoroughly fenced in.

Now Palestian populations in the West Bank are being similarly confined behind a vast system of walls and fences...cut off from Israel, from the outside world, and from the remaining settlements. Infiltrating suicide bombers has become a less effective military tactic.

'Course all new military tactics are eventually countered.