Hamas Rise to Power and Transition Into Politics
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction page(s) 3 2. Hamas’ Origins page(s) 3-6 3. Hamas as a Resistance Movement page(s) 6-7 4. Hamas as a Political Movement page(s) 8-11 5. Hamas in the Eyes of the World page(s) 11-13 6. Reasons for Hamas’ Success page(s) 14-15 7. Conclusion page(s) 15-17 8. Bibliography page(s) 18
Introduction:
Hamas is one of the most recognisable players in the Israel/Palestine dispute. They are extremely important to any peace process that is to have any real and lasting effect in the region. But how did they rise to the position in which they find themselves? Having only come into existence in 1987 they were not present for the earlier struggles against occupation but now they occupy a position that is in many ways stronger than that of Fatah, the successor to the P.L.O. (Palestinian Liberation Organisation). Their rise has been in many ways meteoric and from the outside baffling, that an unknown and new entity could become so powerful in such a short space of time without the help of the old guard. It could be argued that the rise of Hamas came about through chance, fluke and mismanagement on the side of their opposition but this would be to discredit the skill at which Hamas have exploited situations to their favour.
As it stands now they are the most powerful group, both politically and militarily, in the Gaza Strip. Their influence is also growing in the West Bank as they offer an alternative to Fatah, seen by many to be a cumbersome and corrupt organisation that has become ineffective in the fight for a Palestinian state. This has been done through building up networks within communities and by showing that they like Hezbollah in Lebanon can cause damage to the Israeli state.
The Origins of Hamas:
Hamas are a relatively new group in Palestine, there was no Islamic resistance movement in the occupied territories until the first Intifada in 1987 of any real note. Instead the scene was dominated
1. Introduction page(s) 3 2. Hamas’ Origins page(s) 3-6 3. Hamas as a Resistance Movement page(s) 6-7 4. Hamas as a Political Movement page(s) 8-11 5. Hamas in the Eyes of the World page(s) 11-13 6. Reasons for Hamas’ Success page(s) 14-15 7. Conclusion page(s) 15-17 8. Bibliography page(s) 18
Introduction:
Hamas is one of the most recognisable players in the Israel/Palestine dispute. They are extremely important to any peace process that is to have any real and lasting effect in the region. But how did they rise to the position in which they find themselves? Having only come into existence in 1987 they were not present for the earlier struggles against occupation but now they occupy a position that is in many ways stronger than that of Fatah, the successor to the P.L.O. (Palestinian Liberation Organisation). Their rise has been in many ways meteoric and from the outside baffling, that an unknown and new entity could become so powerful in such a short space of time without the help of the old guard. It could be argued that the rise of Hamas came about through chance, fluke and mismanagement on the side of their opposition but this would be to discredit the skill at which Hamas have exploited situations to their favour.
As it stands now they are the most powerful group, both politically and militarily, in the Gaza Strip. Their influence is also growing in the West Bank as they offer an alternative to Fatah, seen by many to be a cumbersome and corrupt organisation that has become ineffective in the fight for a Palestinian state. This has been done through building up networks within communities and by showing that they like Hezbollah in Lebanon can cause damage to the Israeli state.
The Origins of Hamas:
Hamas are a relatively new group in Palestine, there was no Islamic resistance movement in the occupied territories until the first Intifada in 1987 of any real note. Instead the scene was dominated
Bibliography: 1. Hamas a Historical and Political Background, Ziad Abu-Amr, Journal of Palestinian Studies, Published by California University Press, 1993 2 3. U.N. resolution 181, 1948 4 7. Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Theory Approach, Quintan Wiktorowicz, Indiana University Press, 2003 8 9. Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (PDF) Executive summary (Advance 1), Richard Goldstone, 2009 12. The Left and the Jihad, Frank Halliday, 2006 13 14. Hamas: Politics, Charity and Terrorism in the Service of Jihad, Matthew Levitt, Dennis Ross, Yale University Press, 2007 -------------------------------------------- [ 1 ]. Figures from Hamas a Historical and Political Background, Ziad Abu-Amr, Journal of Palestinian Studies, Published by California University Press, 1993 [ 2 ] [ 11 ]. Islamic Activism: A Social Movement Theory Approach, Quintan Wiktorowicz, Indiana University Press, 2003 [ 12 ] [ 13 ]. Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict (PDF) Executive summary (Advance 1), Paragraph 27-28, Richard Goldstone, 2009 [ 20 ]. The Left and the Jihad, Frank Halliday, 2006 [ 21 ]