Hamas, as a unified movement, was founded in December 1987 with the outbreak of the first Intifada. The Palestinian Resistance Movement had always had close ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, which originated in the late 1920s. Accordingly, to understand the emergence of the Hamas one must understand the history of the Palestinian Muslim brotherhood, and in particular the Gaza-based wing: Especially the Egyptian part of the Muslim Brotherhood was involved in the struggle for Palestinian independence from the beginning. After the founding of Israel in 1948, the Palestinian territories were divided into the Jordanian-administered West Bank and the Egyptian-administered Gaza Strip. The Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza was subject to numerous censures and since then also very closely supervised by the Egyptian intelligence. These circumstances can be seen as one reason, why the Hamas sees military attacks and armed struggle as a more effective solution than negotiations. The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, on the other hand, had a part in the political system and enjoyed much more freedom.
Table of Contents
1. Emergence of Hamas
2. Religious and National Dimensions of Hamas Ideology
3. Comparison of Hamas and Fatah Approaches
Research Objectives and Key Topics
The primary objective of this essay is to analyze the historical development of Hamas as a political movement and to contrast its fundamental ideological and strategic approach with that of Fatah regarding the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- Historical origins and transformation of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza into Hamas.
- The role of religion and "Sharia" in defining the Palestinian national cause.
- Political objectives and divergent stances on the two-state solution.
- Methods of resistance: Peaceful negotiation versus armed struggle.
- The impact of internal leadership dynamics and organizational ideologies on conflict resolution.
Excerpt from the Book
Hamas’ Islamic essence of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (in contrast to Fatahs secularism)
Hamas` lslamic essence of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict (in contrast to Fatahs secularism) is another important difference between the two parties (Hamas, 1988). While Fatah portrays the conflict as one between Palestinian nationalism and Zionism, Hamas has the opinion that the conflict is between faith and unbelief, Islam and Judaism, and Muslims and Jews (Litvak, 1998). This distinction is important because it changes the perceptions of the desirable solutions. Through the conceptualization of the conflict through a religious Islamic lens, for Hamas to recognize Israel would be a "betrayal of God, his messenger and the faith" (Litvak, 1998, p.155). Related to this Hamas believes that all historic Palestine is an Islamic endowment that cannot be abandoned (Bröning, 2016). Unlike the PLO – and thus also Fatah, which is part of the PLO – the movement fights not only for the liberation of Palestine, but also for the defense of the Muslim people, Islamic culture, and the holy sites of the Muslims, to establish an Islamic state in all of Palestine (Litvak, 1998).
While Fatah is committed to peaceful resistance to Israel and is willing to negotiate, Hamas has relied on armed resistance from the beginning (Fateh, 1964; Hamas, 1988). This also includes the conduction of suicide attacks and other types of attacks against Israeli security forces and civilians. Consequently, Fatah can be classified as moderate and non-violent, while Hamas is extremist and violent (Bröning, 2016).
Summary of Chapters
1. Emergence of Hamas: This chapter traces the historical roots of Hamas back to the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza and explains how the group transformed into a political entity during the first Intifada.
2. Religious and National Dimensions of Hamas Ideology: This section explores how Hamas frames the conflict through an Islamic lens, viewing the land as a religious endowment and prioritizing faith over secular nationalism.
3. Comparison of Hamas and Fatah Approaches: This chapter analyzes the fundamental divide between the two parties, specifically contrasting Fatah’s willingness to negotiate a two-state solution with Hamas’ rejection of Israel and reliance on armed resistance.
Keywords
Hamas, Fatah, Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Muslim Brotherhood, Intifada, Islamization, Palestinian Authority, Two-state solution, Armed resistance, Sharia, Nationalism, Zionism, Oslo Accords, Political ideology, Sovereignty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay examines the origins of the Hamas movement and identifies the ideological and strategic differences between Hamas and Fatah in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
Key themes include the historical emergence of internal Palestinian factions, the transition from religious organization to political movement, the influence of religion on political strategy, and the clash between secular and religious approaches to statehood.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to explain why Hamas and Fatah maintain conflicting visions for the region and how these visions affect their respective strategies for conflict resolution.
Which methodology is applied?
The paper uses historical analysis and political science literature to compare the charters, actions, and stated objectives of the two movements.
What does the main body describe?
The main body details the evolution of Hamas, the "Islamization" of the conflict, and the specific strategic divergences, such as the acceptance or rejection of the Oslo Accords.
Which keywords define this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Hamas, Fatah, Islamic resistance, secular nationalism, conflict resolution, and Palestinian identity.
How does the concept of "waqf" influence Hamas' strategy?
The designation of Palestinian land as a "waqf" (religious endowment) leads Hamas to believe the territory is divinely held and cannot be surrendered, making any territorial concession a religious betrayal.
What is the significance of the distinction between "faith and unbelief" versus "nationalism and Zionism"?
This distinction highlights the clash between Hamas’ religious perspective and Fatah’s secular perspective, explaining why the parties struggle to find common ground in diplomatic negotiations.
Why did Hamas move from boycotting elections to winning a majority?
The movement transitioned from focusing on social and moral values to active political participation as part of a strategic realization that political legitimacy was necessary to maintain support during the Intifada era.
What distinguishes Fatah's position on Israeli statehood from Hamas'?
Fatah formally recognizes the right of Israel to exist as part of a two-state solution, whereas Hamas explicitly rejects Israel's legitimacy and seeks the establishment of an Islamic state across the entire territory.
- Citation du texte
- Anonym (Auteur), 2022, The Hamas as a Political Movement and the Differences between the Hamas' and the Fatah’s Approaches to Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1362683
