Hamas : Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Reader comment on item: Why Hamas['s Electoral Victory] Leaves Me Neutral

Submitted by Aidan Maconachy (Canada), Jan 31, 2006 at 17:02

The Palestinian people clearly identify with the Hamas agenda. So be it.

An enemy who can be seen and whose hate is transparent is preferable to one that pretends on the surface to be compliant, while hiding its true intent.

Fatah is in many ways just as virulently anti-Israel as Hamas, but the leadership has discovered Italian suits and Rolexes. They have also learned to use the lingo of international diplomacy and speak good english for the most part.

There have been some jokes circulating in the Palestinian territories since the election of Hamas. One of these jokes is that if you get charged with a traffic violation you will have to take your appeal directly to Allah.

Joking aside, Hamas have been behind some major atrocities directed at Israeli civilians. The name "Hamas" is actually an Arabic acronymn meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement" or more simply "zeal".

Hamas harbors the very worst type of anti-semitic hatred, and deals in Hitlerian tripe such as Jewish conspiracy theories along the lines of the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion.

The organization receives finanacial aid from Iran - also from supporters in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states. They also have funding from backers in the U.S., and money raised in American mosques finds its way back to the mother organization.

The liklihood of Hamas having a change of heart with respect to Israel is a non-starter. They may try to position themselves are fair brokers in order to gain international acceptance, but the fundamental aims of this organization are unlikely to change.

I was amused to note, that only days after their election win, some Hamas officials were already complaining about the Israeli flag and demanding that it be altered.

Well ... at least the U.S. and Israel now clearly can see what they are dealing with.

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