A reader sent me this June report on Hamas from the United States Institute of Peace. It’s the kind nuanced understanding of political realities in the region that is sorely lacking from the vast bulk of the establishment: Discussion in the United States regarding Hamas is usually framed by two somewhat contradictory assumptions: (1) that…
Showing all posts tagged Hamas
Telling accurate stories about struggles in Gaza
Hamas recently premiered its first film in Gaza. Blogger Lina Al Sharif attended the screening and wrote the following observations: It’s not the best movie I have seen, but it’s a movie from Gaza. Putting in consideration all the circumstances, the resources and facilities that are needed to produce a movie with such plot; the…
Humiliation as Israeli policy
An Israeli official recently told the BBC on the ongoing blockade of Gaza: The blockade, which is currently under review, may inadvertently benefit Hamas – but pointed out that easing it might be taken as a victory for the Islamic movement.
Killing Gazans isn’t exactly ideal
Fred Abrahams, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch’s Emergencies Program, tells Democracy Now! that Israel must answer serious allegations against its soldiers murdering innocent Palestinians holding white flags during the recent war: Well, the main criticism from the Israeli government of our report is attacking the methodology. And, you know, this is the same methodology…
Obama is not the anti-Christ, repeat after me
J Street launches a new website, Obama Smear Busters, in an attempt to debunk the growing number of lies spread by the fundamentalist Zionist communities in Israel and the US: – Obama threw Israel under the bus in Cairo speech? Nope. – “Birther” leader claims Obama is “clear and present danger to Israel?” Ridiculous. –…
When crazy Zionism meets just crazy
Orly Tait, the Jew behind the Obama “birther” controversy, speaks to Haaretz: “During the campaign, Obama was telling American Jews that he is for Israel… but sure enough, just as he was elected, look at his first actions, he issued an executive order to give $900 million to Gaza with no preconditions.” Taitz says that…
When Hamas and Israel are judged by different standards
The Hamas strike against a (supposed) al-Qaeda gang in Gaza is given a thorough examination by journalist and blogger Orly Halpern: I was shocked today to read how my colleague and friend, Haaretz’s Palestinian Affairs correspondent Avi Issacharoff, portrayed Hamas’ crushing of an Al-Qaeda inspired Islamic extremist group over the weekend in southern Gaza. The…
The Hamas defence mechanism
Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal tells a Qatari newspaper of his group’s supposed attitude to a growing “virtue campaign” in Gaza: We will not impose a strict interpretation of religion on anyone. There is growing evidence from inside the Strip, including what I saw and heard with my own eyes and ears in July, that contradicts…
A growing challenge to the rule of Hamas
Following the clashes in Gaza between Hamas and an al-Qaeda affiliated group, the Washington Post offers the following (largely believable) analysis: The deadly shootout in a Gaza Strip mosque Friday between members of the ruling Islamist Hamas movement and a militant splinter group may signal further challenges to Hamas’s authority in Gaza as it tries…
Ahmadinejad will remain on notice
Iran’s political situation is currently in turmoil. This, though, could be a welcome development: The Iranian opposition leader Mir Hussein Moussavi announced the formation of a new social and political movement on his Web site on Saturday, following through on a promise made last month and defying a renewed government campaign of intimidation aimed at…