Comments on: Most Arabs Want Hamas to Replace Arafat

By: Sam

Sam — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 23:11:13 +0000

I must say, I was quite puzzled at some of the previous comments. Are some of them living in an altenate world? Or am I seriously misinformed as to Hamas' goals, positions, and strategies? A little searching and it appears its the former:

http://www.hamasonline.org/indexx.php?page=Hamas/hamas_profile
``...Hamas was formed in 1987 with the objective of destroying the Zionist entity that occupies Palestine, and establishing Palestine from the sea to the river based on Islamic principles....''

http://www.hamasonline.org/indexx.php?page=Hamas/hamas_convenant
``...The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up....''

``...[Peace] initiatives, the so-called peaceful solutions, and the international conferences to resolve the Palestinian problem, are all contrary to the beliefs of the Islamic Resistance Movement. For renouncing any part of Palestine means renouncing part of the religion; the nationalism of the Islamic Resistance Movement is part of its faith, the movement educates its members to adhere to its principles and to raise the banner of Allah over their homeland as they fight their Jihad: "Allah is the all-powerful, but most people are not aware."''

By: Conservative Revolution

Conservative Revolution — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 17:40:27 +0000

7 Out of 10 Arabs Prefer Dead Jews
Outside the Beltway has news of a survey recently done in the Middle East with the results showing that 74% of Arabs would prefer to have Hamas replace Yassar Arafat. Outside the Beltway says it best: "the annihilation of Israel remains the goal of m...

By: J Thomas

J Thomas — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 03:25:10 +0000

McGehee, no, the stance taken by those defending the ones who did after all start it, is almost always that actually the other side started it.

People who argue about the israelis or palestinians starting it often argue it back to 1930, or 1923, or 1890 or whatever. I would expect that generally the zionist apologists would win at that because they have a bigger body of english-language documents to research, and more of their documents have survived, and more of them have the leisure to play that game.

But I believe that it's useless to argue about who was right in 1946 or 1930 unless the point is to demonise the other side and avoid any resolution short of genocide.

By: Wes Roth

Wes Roth — Sun, 28 Nov 2004 01:48:42 +0000

Survey: Replace Arafat with Hamas
From the Jerusalem Post: A survey of the Arab world organized by the Al-Arabia network website after the death of Yasser Arafat, showed 73.72% want a Hamas representative to replace Arafat...[with] only 0.7% expect that one of the PLO leaders...

By: Coca Bogdan

Coca Bogdan — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 21:58:01 +0000

Arabs are very controversive this days...and I don't know why ? because they are in 3th word?

By: McGehee

McGehee — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 19:23:54 +0000

...arguments about âwho started itâ are completely useless except as propaganda to demonise the other side.

That's generally the stance taken by those defending the ones who did, after all, start it.

By: Backcountry Conservative

Backcountry Conservative — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 17:35:09 +0000

Poll: Palestinians Support Hamas
- Jerusalem Post (via Outside the Beltway) A survey of the Arab world organized by the Al-Arabia network website after the death of Yasser Arafat, showed 73.72% want a Hamas representative to replace Arafat, ITIM reported. In contrast only 0.7%...

By: InTheBullpen.com

InTheBullpen.com — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 17:32:27 +0000

Poll: Palestinians Support Hamas
This is not completely unexpected as it is a gut reaction from the Palestinians who after all still believe Israel poisoned Arafat. However, this is why it is important that a âmoderateâ Palestinian leader rise and lead to Palestinians to peace instead...

By: J Thomas

J Thomas — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 15:23:44 +0000

ZZ, arguments about "who started it" are completely useless except as propaganda to demonise the other side.

The fact remains, Hamas has offered cease-fires and israel has rejected them in the most emphatic way by bombing suspected locations of Hamas leaders.

You can argue that Likud is right to utterly refuse to have nonlethal dealings with Hamas because Hamas would only try to cheat them if they agreed to any deal. But in practice it's still the Sharon regime that refuses all of Hamas's advances and not the other way around.

By: zz

zz — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 09:40:42 +0000

Hamas of course started the current multiyear stretch of violence and only offers ceasefires as a way of creating breathing room to regroup.

By: J Thomas

J Thomas — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 04:25:35 +0000

John, Hamas has repeatedly offered cease-fires to israel which israel has broken. There hasn't been a lot of negotiation from the israeli side. What concessions has israel offered Hamas?

By: The Astute Blogger

The Astute Blogger — Sat, 27 Nov 2004 00:10:28 +0000

al Arabia poll: 74% of Arabs favor Hamas to succeed Arafat

By: John Thacker

John Thacker — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 20:48:02 +0000

Besides, the Israelis also do things like rescue Palestinian arms smugglers who are trying to bring in weapons to use against the Israelis. Yes, they promptly arrested them too, but that's a lot more than just killing them. Note that the Palestinians called the Israelis for help. So the Palestinians at least are confident that the Israelis won't just kill them.

By: John Thacker

John Thacker — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 20:43:16 +0000

As long as Hamas just kills Israelis, the Israelis have nothing to gain by talking concessions.

The Israelis have tried talking peace and offering concessions. Hamas never has, despite its apologists above.

By: bryan

bryan — Fri, 26 Nov 2004 19:09:15 +0000

The question I guess I have to ask is who gives a damn what the rest of the arab world wants? I thought this was between the palestinians and the israelis.