ISRAEL

Shadow of Iran Looms Large Over Gaza

After decades of unstoppable enmity, Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization struck a deal in 1993 under the sponsorship of the United States: The Oslo Agreements. The two parties at the negotiations continued to complain about difficulties in the final stage but nevertheless moved forward in implementing piece after piece. A Palestinian Authority (PA) was established and funded by the West to become the partner in Peace of the state of Israel, as a first stage of Palestinian statehood. But by the mid-90s, the Syrian-Iranian “axis” armed and funded Hamas and other jihadi organizations to “sink” the process.

Wahabi quarters joined in funding the rejectionist forces. The equation was simple: Hamas attacks Israel, causing a collapse in the negotiation process; Israelis and Palestinians blame each other; suicide bombings blast inside the Jewish state triggering air raids on the Palestinian territories. The history of the past 17 years is one of obstruction toward any attempt to reach a final agreement between the two parties and one of efforts by the United States, Europe and the rest of the international community to push the process forward. In short, it’s a struggle between the fledgling peace process and an Iranian strategy designed to destroy it. Everything else is just a facet of this image, but the Iranian-imposed deadlock is the root cause for all frustrations, failures and bloodshed on both sides.

//foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/12/31/phare...

Hamas, Fatah, PLO

Fact check: If you do some research you will actually find that Hamas was started by Israel to counter the PLO. Not all Palestinians support Hamas, especially the religious conservatism of their platform. In fact there have been a number of social initiatives such as censoring text books in schools that Palestinians have resisted. What can be said is that they were democratically elected and they do provide social services to communities. Arafat's wife, Soha had millions and was living in France when he died, while Palestinians were starving in camps. Oslo was an example of Arafat's lack of loyalty and total capitulation to the Israelis. The Israelis had the chance to kill Arafat a number of times, there is a well known story of them having cornered him in Beirut during the Civil War and not assassinating him because his inaction served their agenda. And now Fatah is working with the Israelis, Palestinians have never had a political group that truly represented their needs without taking advantage of the vulnerability of their communities and pushing their own agenda for power and control.

There should be peace but

I agree with Masoud 67 completely.  If it was not of IRI Hamas would not have resources to terrorize Israel.  It is IRI who is supporting this torroist group with IRANIAN Money which are supposed to be spent for IRAN & IRANIANS.  Of course,  IRI supports this torroist group for its own agenda in the region not  because of humanity.  Nontheless,  The problem of these Arabs in ME must not be our problem.  IRI has become ASH HOTTER than KASEH since its inception.  Shame & Shame on these Persian speaking ARABS.

Hamas Fact sheet

Hamas, since its founding in 1987 in Gaza by Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, Hamas - an Arabic acronym for Islamic Resistance Movement meaning "zeal" - has been committed to destroying the Jewish state and replacing it with an Islamic state in all of Palestine.

Origins:

Hamas was created shortly before the December 1987 Intifada as a more militant, Palestinian offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, a religious, political and social movement founded in Egypt and dedicated to the gradual victory of Islam. Since the mid-1970s, the Brotherhood had been expanding its influence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip through its vast array of social services. Hamas advocacy of an immediate holy war to liberate Palestine rendered the Brotherhood's policy of gradual Islamicization ineffectual.

Ideology:

Hamas preaches and engages in violence and terror in order to destroy the state of Israel and replace it with an Islamic state. Its virulent hatred of Jews and Judaism is deeply rooted in the anti-Semitic writings of Muslim Brotherhood theologians.

In August 1988, Hamas issued its Covenant laying down its ideological principles and goals. Replete with anti-Semitism, it echoes the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion and charges Jews with an international conspiracy to gain control of the world. In Hamas' worldview, Islamic precepts forbid a Jewish state in the area known as Palestine, the Jewish people have no legitimate connection to the land of Israel and Yasir Arafat is a traitor to the Islamic Palestinian cause. As the Hamas Covenant proclaims, "The land of Palestine is an Islamic trust... It is forbidden to anyone to yield or concede any part of it... Israel will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it..."

Organizational Structure:

Hamas is both a terrorist organization and a mass social, political and religious movement. The military branch is reportedly divided into three wings: an intelligence arm which gathers information about Palestinians suspected of collaboration, an arm which pursues those who have violated Islamic law and the Izzedine al-Qassam squads who are responsible for most of the terror attacks. The al-Qassam squads are comprised of a few dozen activists loosely organized into small, shadowy terror cells, at times operating independently of each other. Hamas' military and political leaders are based throughout the West Bank and Gaza and the organization maintains offices and representatives in Teheran, Damascus and Amman. The connections and levels of coordination between the military and political branches are concealed.

The division of Hamas into military and political/social wings has led many observers to erroneously assume that the social wing of Hamas is completely separate from its military wing. However, funds raised for the social programs of Hamas free up other funds for the military wing and there is no open accounting system whereby the international community can ascertain whether or not the social wing finances the military wing. For instance, so-called humanitarian donations reward the families of Hamas suicide bombers.

Hamas' military wing also utilizes the organization's social wing for indoctrination and recruitment. The social, cultural, religious and educational institutions of Hamas are well-known venues for anti-Israel and anti-Jewish hatred and serve as recruitment centers for Hamas suicide bombers. For example, a Hamas-sponsored soccer team in Hebron provided a ready supply of several Hamas suicide bombers. In early 2006, Hamas began operation of a television station based in Gaza, Al Aksa TV, which broadcasts primarily religious and children's programming. Al Aksa TV – which Hamas says it hopes to soon broadcast via satellite to broaden its audience – is likely to become a key tool in propagating Hamas' extremist message. Indeed, the host of the station's children's program told the New York Times that his show "will teach children the basics of militant Palestinian politics."

Terrorism and Violence:

Hamas launched its campaign of violence in 1989, first against Israeli soldiers and suspected Palestinian collaborators, and then against Israeli civilians. In the wake of the Oslo agreement, Hamas leaders intensified their rhetoric and vowed to derail the peace process through violent attacks. Drive-by shootings, firebombings and stabbings increased. Suicide missions began in April 1994, when a Hamas suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden car into a bus in Afula killing eight and wounding 50 others.

Since that time Hamas has claimed responsibility for hundreds of attacks against Israeli civilian and military targets. Israeli security sources have thwarted scores more. Following Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in August 2005, Hamas carried out dozens of rocket attacks against civilian targets in southern Israel. According to the Israel Defense Forces, through suicide bombings and other violent attacks, Hamas has killed nearly 300 Israelis since September 2000, and wounded over 2,000.

While Hamas agreed to a ceasefire or "tahdia" on terrorist operations in March 2005, according to Israeli sources, Hamas continued to plan and perpetrate terrorist attacks, and helped provide support for attacks claimed by other terrorist organizations.

Through systematic religious and political indoctrination and social pressure, Hamas leaders recruit young Palestinian men for suicide missions and other attacks. Hamas has also recruited beyond the West Bank and Gaza. According to Israeli sources, Hamas has recruited and operated a number of Israeli Arab terror cells. In June 2003, Israel indicted five senior officials of the Israeli Arab Islamic Movement, including movement leader Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, on various terrorism-related charges including membership in Hamas and raising funds abroad for Hamas agencies in the West Bank and Gaza. According to Israeli sources, two British Muslim suicide bombers who blew up a pub in Tel Aviv in April 2003 were Hamas recruits dispatched by the Hamas military command in Gaza.

Financial Support:

Hamas enjoys strong financial backing from Iran (an estimated $20 - $30 million), private benefactors and Muslim charities in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, Palestinian expatriates across the globe and American donors. Its budget has been estimated at $70 million and 85 percent of it reportedly comes from abroad; the remaining 15 percent is raised among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. A number of Americans and U.S.-based charities have been implicated in funneling money to Hamas. It is estimated that Saudi Arabia continues to channel between $12 - $14 million to Hamas annually. At a June 2003 press conference, Adel al-Jubeir, a senior adviser to the Saudi Crown Prince, did acknowledge that many Palestinian institutions funded by the Saudis may be run or managed by the political wing of Hamas.

Syria remains a key center for Hamas operations, and the Assad regime provides support and protection to key Hamas leadership based in Damascus.

Hamas and Palestinian Politics:

Hamas had tremendous success in the January 25, 2006 parliamentary elections, routing Fatah, and winning 74 seats in the 132-seat legislature, with Fatah earning a disappointing 45 seats. Hamas will thus form the next Palestinian Authority government, with Mahmoud Abbas remaining as Palestinian Authority President.

Although the “Oslo II” agreement signed by Israel and the Palestinian Authority in September 1995, outlining the modalities of Palestinian elections, bars candidates who “commit or advocate racism; or pursue the implementation of their aims by unlawful or non-democratic means,” President Abbas did not prevent Hamas’ participation in the political process.

Hamas began large-scale participation in the Palestinian political scene in 2005, and they did extremely well in the series of municipal elections held throughout the year, gaining more than a third of municipal council seats. As a result of the fourth round of Palestinian municipal elections held in December 2005, over one million Palestinians live in municipalities governed by Hamas (while only 700,000 live in municipalities governed by Fatah).

Hamas candidates appeal to Palestinian voters as the alternative to the perceived corruption, inaction and weakness of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority leadership. Candidates promised improved socio-economic conditions for Palestinian families, and greater social services. They also pledged an end to the “Israeli occupation,” the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital and the return of all Palestinian refugees.

Through the 2006 election campaign, Hamas candidates and leadership did not disavow their commitment to an “armed struggle” against Israel, their refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist, and the precepts of the Hamas Charter. Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar declared on Palestinian TV, “We do not recognize the Israeli enemy, nor his right to be our neighbor, nor to stay (on the land), nor his ownership of any inch of land. . . . We are interested in restoring our full rights to return all the people of Palestine to the land of Palestine. Our principles are clear: Palestine is a land of Waqf (Islamic trust), which can not be given up.” At the same time, a number of Hamas candidates did make pragmatic statements, indicating that they might deal with Israelis in certain situations, or via a third party.

The entry of Hamas into Palestinian politics has been somewhat controversial. Some Hamas ideologues argue that involvement with the Palestinian Authority will lead to comprising the party’s goals, and the legitimization of the Palestinian Authority’s dealings with the State of Israel. Indeed, for these reasons Hamas did not participate in the last Palestinian elections in 1996.

Arabs

Regarding the 400 million Arabs: We have always been on the side of the Palestinians, it is our corrupt, despotic leaders and their cronies that have used the Palestinian cause as a rallying cry when they themselves are committing the same atrocious acts to their own people. Many of us have risked our lives for the Palestinian cause and other injustices being committed in the region. There are countless cases, for example, of non-Palestinian Arabs being killed during the invasion of Kuwait by the Kuwaitis for helping Palestinians and other Arabs escape. Let us get something straight, with your logic it should be said that the Shia people (including Iranians) should have come to the defense of Iraqis, southern Lebanese and all the other persecuted and bombarded Shias, but alas it is impossible to come to the rescue of others when you yourself are in a similar predicament.

Masoud67

Fact check: Hamas didn't beef with PLO. Arafat represented PLO and Hamas always  supported Arafat (That's why Sharon hated Arafat so much). Hamas has beef with Fata (Mahmoud Abbas) because Fata removed Arafat/Hamas gov officials (elected by the people during Hamas's majority win over Fata) and replaced them with its own Fata members. That was the cause of collapse and infighting ... Fata's also been long known for its corruption abuse of money when people are starving. Hamas has a huge social program instead and reason for being popular with majority of Palestinians.

Just giving u the facts. 

Noble sentiments, undoubtedly

This is a sincere and sensible piece and there have been a few of them on this site. But, to be quite honest, I for one am so terribly angry and grieved that no noble sentiments, no kind sincerety, or attempts at "seeing things from both sides" rings true to me. I am speechless. I am NOT silenced but I am speechless the way one becomes speechless at certain moments of deep horror.

I have a feeling that a lot of us around the world are speechless right now. But not for long. This atrocity, these despicable crimes that are only part of an even more despicable machination of deceit, this obscene orgy thrown by the some of the vilest humans who ever lived, these attempts to domineer over reality and truth... all this stuff IS registering with people. If Jewish people don't speak up against this now they will forever forfeit their right to speak against the Nazis.

Cowards

These SILENT (Deafening) Arab nations (numbering some 400 million compared to some 8 million Jews) are anything but human.  Even wolves come to the rescue of their own kind!  Even the UN took its sweet old time to make a sorry statement.  This is truly a shameful time in the history of mankind (read UNKIND).

Israelies act as Gang

Israelies act as Gang members, truly everywhere.
they enjoy revenge more than making money
when one of them gets into an americn company he tries to bring all his countrymen to the company and award them with the highest stock options so that they can take the money home.
They will discriminate against others whether white from USA or Iran ,so it is not hatred for arabs only that drives them.
I think EEOC needs to do a check on that and see how bad the problem is.
I think there is more hope for EEOC to do something than there is from U.N.
have a good day. fight and stop discrimination based on clolor, national origin,.....against anyone
In my opinion Israelies that I have seen in USA have failed badly. They have lost my respect. so when it comes to Olmert and others I can only imagine how unfair they may be in their actions specially when there is no one to watch them.
by the way Iranian executives in general act as enemy of persians just to show that they do not do favors even though they may be dealing with best candidates or workers who happen to be persiann or should i say Irani.

Hope4 peace

You are correct that there are 2 sides to every dispute, but you are forgetting that what Hamas and people in Palestine are doing is out of desparation and helplessness.

They are fed up by the terrorist government of Israel/U.S. that is restricting their every day lives, food, medicine,schools,work place, etc. in their own Country. 

Remember, it was their Home and Israel was put in that land by the Europeans after the WWII  . Israel has not made one move during her existance there to make friends and co exist.

Yes, you are correct, the criminal Mullah regime in Iran is supporting the Palestinians and Hamas movements, but that is because no one else cares how many Arabs are murdered and how much land is taken from them.

I am totally against all violence, crime and killings but those people are fighting for their Homes and are fed up with all the inhumane abuse from the Zionist Regime, supported by their puppets in U.S.

There should be peace but

There should be peace but with whom. Hamas is an organization which does whatever Khamenehei tells them to do. They do not represent Palestinian people. They are the one even cannot tolerate Palestinian with a different opinion ( we saw what they did to PLO personnels after took over Gaza). When there is such an organization and such ideology which hates anybody other than their own "fellows" ( we have their counterpart in power in IRAN) do you expect that there will not be a war. They hit non-military targets in Israel by 7000 Ghasam rockets since 2005. What a democratic state should do to protect her civilian?

Democracy my ass

Israel is run by an ex- military junta. It is like says Cheney believes in Democracy.

Israel is failure as and experiment - where its youth can not offered education, and divided its nation among eastern Jews and western Jews (have and have not)

Anyone interested in this? Or just in Israel?

A 21 September 2006 article by the official UN News Service stated that "UN officials estimate over 400,000 people have lost their lives and some 2 million more have been driven from their homes."[78] However, the UN disclosed on 22 April 2008 that it might have underestimated the Darfur death toll by nearly 50 percent.[79]

U Nailed it...

"The support and tolerance of Israel by the West does not only nurture Islamic Fundamentalists and terrorists but it actually gave birth to them."

Two side to every coin

While by no means I agree with what Isreal is doing, I wonder where are our voices and objections to Hamas sending rockets and hitting civilians in Israel? Where are our objections to the idealogy that straps explosives around the bodies of its young and tells them to walk into a mall or a store and rip apart young and old alike? Where are our voices when in the name of a religion, they behead journalists and businessmen? Where are our voices when in our own beloved land we have hunger, poverty and drugs while our government sends billions of dollars to terroist organizations around the world.

There are always two side to every coin, unfortunately both sides of this coin are dark but lets not forget there are two side.

Dear Ms. Sabety;

Dear Ms. Sabety;

Your article is not only written masterfully. It also contains many plausible points of view.

  What is astonishing to us is the coward inaction of the Arab countries and the lack of official response by their governments.Their silence is an implicit complacency with this crime against innocent people.  So far, the IRI is the only country with official reaction, expressing strong condemnation and calling for international attention into this tragedy.  

Varjavand

They have a friend in D.C.

These criminals have the total support of U.S. to do whatever they like to do.

It is a shamelful  genocide and even more shameful when the entire World is sitting on the side and watching this happen.

Then they wonder in Washington D.C. "Why do they hate us?".

Shame on humanity to let these criminal acts go on and on for so long.

The murder weapons are all made in U.S.A.