Hamas is even more popular after the Gaza war

Started by jimmy olsen, March 11, 2009, 09:14:58 PM

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jimmy olsen

March 11, 2009, 09:14:58 PM
Lovely. <_<

http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/03/11/why-hamas-is-even-more-popular-after-the-gaza-war/
Quote
Why Hamas is even more popular after the Gaza war

Reconciliation talks between the Palestinian Islamist group and its rival, Fatah, began this week in Cairo.
By Joshua Mitnick | Correspondent 03.11.09

TEL AVIV – A month and a half after the end of the war in Gaza, Hamas is gaining in popularity.

According to a survey released this week, public support for Hamas jumped to 33 percent compared with 28 percent before the war, while Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh closed a 10 percentage point gap with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas, according to a leading Palestinian pollster.

Mr. Abbas's sagging fortunes are considered among the main factors behind the decision to hold talks in Cario that started this week aimed at healing the 21-month rift with Hamas.

The Islamists also seek a compromise because they're aware that the bump in sympathy could dissipate if the $4.48 billion in reconstruction funds for Gaza is held up due to internal wrangling, says Khalil Shikaki, who runs the Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research.

"Hamas gains additional standing because it was seen as the victim," he says. "On the other hand, Hamas is worried. The continued misery in Gaza will continue to hurt Hamas as well. Both Hamas and Abbas will feel a need to reach some sort of accommodation."

During the war, Hamas's stature in the Arab world got a boost under the onslaught of an Israeli offensive that killed about 1,300 Gazans.

Hamas portrayed Abbas and his Fatah Party – who are backed by the US – as complicit in the Israeli attack.

Since the end of the war, both Hamas and Fatah have been vying to control the dispersal of the rebuilding funds, and reconciliation talks are seen as a way to create a modicum of cooperation.

Reconciliation talks

The unity talks started Tuesday in Cairo and are scheduled to run through the end of March. The negotiations are also focusing on setting up a unity cabinet, and arranging a date for new elections. Last weekend, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said he would step aside to make way for a unity government.

A Hamas-Fatah reconciliation could provide the first test for the policy of the new Obama administration toward the Islamic militants. Under the previous Fatah-Hamas unity government, the Bush administration continued to boycott Hamas while propping up Abbas. Participants in the current round of talks hope that Obama's decision to engage Iran and Syria diplomatically portends a change for the Palestinians.

"There is an Obama effect," said Ghassan Khatib, a former Palestinian cabinet minister, who is participating in the negotiations. "The region expects a more of an inclusive approach from the president."

Khatib added that expectations for the mending of a rift between Egypt and Syria at a summit today in Saudi Arabia has also given a boost to the Cairo talks.

Observers have mentioned that expectations for a rightward shift in the next Israeli government have dimmed expectations for a peace deal in the coming years and further undermined Abbas's support.

A word of caution

The polling numbers contain some notes of caution for Hamas. Undermining Hamas's claim of victory, more than two-thirds of the respondents believe that the situation of Palestinians has deteriorated as a result of the three week war.

"Both camps are in crisis," says Eyad Sarraj, who heads the Gaza Community Mental Health Program. "Hamas is unable to continue rule Gaza when it is destroyed and bankrupted."

Hamas and Fatah will discuss sharing control of the PA's security services and the Palestine Liberation Organization – two institutions dominated by the secularist Fatah. Even if the two parties can cobble together a cabinet and set a date for elections, a true reconciliation may prove elusive, says Mr. Shikaki.

"There is no way these talks can bring the sides together. The positions are too far apart," he said. "They are not going to give up their ideology and their political views. They will agree to disagree."
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

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Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
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Valmy

#1
March 11, 2009, 09:26:01 PM
The Palestinians love to lose so much they embrace anybody who will lose better than the previous loser.  Fortunately, However, it is not like Hamas is universally hailed only 33% of Pals support them.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

Darth Wagtaros

#2
March 11, 2009, 09:28:56 PM
Hamas promises victory over the Zionist oppressor.  No matter how many of their children have to kill themselves to do it.
PDH!

Faeelin

#3
March 11, 2009, 11:25:56 PM
Wait, you mean invasion by the ancient foe didn't make people abandon the government?

Siege

#4
March 12, 2009, 12:59:17 AM
The only thing Hamas need to do to win, is to survive.



"All men are created equal, then some become infantry."

"Those who beat their swords into plowshares will plow for those who don't."

"Laissez faire et laissez passer, le monde va de lui même!"

Martinus

#5
March 12, 2009, 01:19:14 AM
Quote from: Faeelin on March 11, 2009, 11:25:56 PM
Wait, you mean invasion by the ancient foe didn't make people abandon the government?
Pretty much. Only a retard can be surprised over this news.

Syt

#6
March 12, 2009, 01:40:10 AM
People in the middle east are morons. Film at 11.
I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops.
—Stephen Jay Gould

Proud owner of 42 Zoupa Points.

Martinus

#7
March 12, 2009, 01:47:13 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 12, 2009, 01:40:10 AM
People in the middle east are morons. Film at 11.
I don't think this particular piece of news means they are morons. Rather, it suggests they are people.

vinraith

#8
March 12, 2009, 02:03:12 AM Last Edit: March 12, 2009, 02:04:49 AM by vinraith
Sadly, there is not yet any way to bomb sense into people.

Warspite

#9
March 12, 2009, 05:09:54 AM
Quote from: Siege on March 12, 2009, 12:59:17 AM
The only thing Hamas need to do to win, is to survive.

Not really, Hamas find themselves in the position of being the only government the Gaza strip has. And governments have to do things like deliver services and security.

The Palestinians will not have patience with them forever. In fact, 67 per cent of the population do not support them. To have a five per cent jump, according to this pollster, after just having claimed victory against your mighty foe is pretty lame. I don't see Hamas going into negotiations necessarily from a position of strength.
" SIR – I must commend you on some of your recent obituaries. I was delighted to read of the deaths of Foday Sankoh (August 9th), and Uday and Qusay Hussein (July 26th). Do you take requests? "

OVO JE SRBIJA
BUDALO, OVO JE POSTA

derspiess

#10
March 12, 2009, 08:27:45 AM
Quote from: vinraith on March 12, 2009, 02:03:12 AM
Sadly, there is not yet any way to bomb sense into people.

Did the trick with Khadaffi :)
"If you can play a guitar and harmonica at the same time, like Bob Dylan or Neil Young, you're a genius. But make that extra bit of effort and strap some cymbals to your knees, suddenly people want to get the hell away from you."  --Rich Hall

Valmy

#11
March 12, 2009, 08:38:33 AM
Quote from: Faeelin on March 11, 2009, 11:25:56 PM
Wait, you mean invasion by the ancient foe didn't make people abandon the government?

An invasion they provoked?  It sure would be more than enough reason for me to abandon them.

Would you support Hamas if you were in the Pals situation?  I doubt it.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

Valmy

#12
March 12, 2009, 08:45:32 AM
Quote from: Martinus on March 12, 2009, 01:47:13 AM
Quote from: Syt on March 12, 2009, 01:40:10 AM
People in the middle east are morons. Film at 11.
I don't think this particular piece of news means they are morons. Rather, it suggests they are people.

Well only 33% of the people support them.  Are the other 67% not really people or are 33% morons?

I am amused by this idea that it is human nature to rally to groups like Hamas and we would all do it under similar circumstances.  Nonsense.  Not even the Palestinians themselves are doing that.
Quote"This is a Russian warship. I propose you lay down arms and surrender to avoid bloodshed & unnecessary victims. Otherwise, you'll be bombed."

Zmiinyi defenders: "Russian warship, go fuck yourself."

The Minsky Moment

#13
March 12, 2009, 09:08:51 AM
Quote from: Faeelin on March 11, 2009, 11:25:56 PM
Wait, you mean invasion by the ancient foe didn't make people abandon the government?

Some people might say that a government whose horrible blunders resulted in catastrophe for the entire population, whose skill in mobilizing international opinion against themselves has caused the entire formal economy to vanish, and which has acheived absolutely zero in terms of any tangible gains during its entire period of government, doesn't merit continuing support.  Personally I wouldn't have rushed to vote for Tojo in 1946 Japan for example.
The purpose of studying economics is not to acquire a set of ready-made answers to economic questions, but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists.
--Joan Robinson
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