Islamic Resistance Movement Essay Research Paper The

Islamic Resistance Movement Essay, Research Paper

The Islamic Resistance Movement

HAMAS

Jihad.for God.s cause, in spite of its extreme importance for the future of the religion has been rejected by the ulama of this age. They have feigned ignorance of it, but they know that it is the only way to the return and the establishment of glory of Islam anew. There is no doubt that the idols of this world can only disappear through the power of the sword. (Esposito, 135)

On December 14, 1987 a movement was born that would forever change the peace process in the Middle East, the name of that group is Hamas or Harakat Al Muqawama Al Islamiya (Arabic acronym for the Islamic Resistance Movement, and literally meaning .zeal.). The Islamic Resistance Movement is one of the wings of Moslem Brotherhood in Palestine, and shares many of their policies and views. It is characterized by its deep understanding, accurate comprehension and its complete embrace of all Islamic concepts of all aspects of life, culture, creed, politics, economics, education, society, justice and judgement, the spreading of Islam, education, art, information, science of the occult and conversion to Islam. (Hamas Covenant)

This paper will analyze the structure of Hamas, shedding light on a group, which is frequently misunderstood by the Western Press as simply a fad in the West Bank and Gaza. This paper will show that Hamas is more than just a terrorist organization hell bent on the destruction of the Israeli State. It will display that due to its popular beliefs, together with its ability to help the impoverished people of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Hamas will continue to be a force in the Middle East peace process.

On May 1949, the General Assembly of International Security Council recognized Israel as a state established on Palestinian land. However, this resulted in a bloody conflict that continues to present day. The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is a land consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgement day. They despise the birth of this .Zionist entity. within Palestine. Making matters worse in the eyes of Hams, PLO leader Yasser Arafat has been trying to negotiating peace with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel.s Prime Minister. This whole concept of negotiations is against Hamas. belief. They believe in prevalence through nationalism. .Resisting and quelling the enemy become the individual duty of every Moslem, male or female. A woman can go out to fight the enemy without her husband’s permission, and so does the slave: without his master’s permission.. (Hamas Covenant)

Hamas. Religious belief is the core of the movement. They believe in the fundamentals of Islam. From it, it draws its ways of thinking, its ideas and understanding of man, life and the universe. Hamas turns to Islam as a mean of Judgement in all its conduct, and it inspires them and guides them in their pursuit of a free Palestine.

Hamas says there is no solution for the Palestinian question except through .Jihad., Holy War. Proposals, initiatives and international interventions and conferences are all a waste of time in the eyes of Hamas. Constant preparation has continued and so has the readiness to sacrifice life and all that is precious for the sake of Allah. The Islamic Resistance Movement carries out its role striving for the sake of its Creator and to fulfill the wishes, yearnings and expectations of the Palestinian people by neutralizing all obstacles. (Hamas Covenant)

Besides cleansing Palestine from the Zionist entity Hamas has other goals as well. All though Hamas most often is depicted as a terrorist organization we must not forget that they are seen as freedom fighters by many. Hamas wants to educate the public about unjust living conditions experienced by the people under the Israeli occupation. They also provide financial assistance to families who lost their sours of income due to Israeli assassinations, and they provide low cost medical care, etc.

These goals certainly makes more people sympathetic to their cause and actions giving Hamas substantial support from Palestinians living on the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and in East Jerusalem. (Kushner, p8-9)

Hamas also has a higher goal. It aspires to Allah.s promise that no matter how long it takes there will be no judgement until the Moslems kill the Jews. (Hamas covenant) They also want to destroy the peace process and PLO, which they see as corrupted by the West. Nevertheless as a political entity Hamas has seen the need to be malleable and change with the times, as reality change with the Territories.

The resiliency and their ability to produce some long range goals came about in April of 1994 when it laid out provisions which it felt would enable it to stop anti Jewish attacks in the West Bank and Gaza if some conditions could be met. Among those conditions were the complete pull out of Israeli troops from occupied zones, disarmament of settlers and settlements, deployment of multi-national forces along the .green line. and also free and fair elections to see who would represent the Palestinians in their peace talks. (The truth about Hamas)

What tactics do they use to reach their main goal. As mentioned above Hamas believes in Jihad and Sheik Ahmed Yassin said in an interview that attacks on Israeli civilians are legitimate tact