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Muslim Affairs Team
Name
MUFULIUDEEN MUH RAJI
- Nigeria
Profession
STUDENT
Question
What is exactly the current situation in Palestine?
Answer
Two major Palestinian factions are clashing over ideological, political, but also factional interests. Fatah, the largest Palestinian Liberation Organization party lost the legislative elections by a large margin last January 2006, to a non-PLO faction, Hamas.
That loss was historic for it’s the first time that a dominant political group in the Middle East (aside from Israel) concede to another in a peaceful, transparent elections.
Fatah of course was not happy; supported and financed by the US and Israel, certain factions within the now splintering Fatah party vowed to topple the government and are working diligently to achieve such a goal.
Abbas and Hamas agreed to a coalition government that would bring an end to the violence and discord, but there are still major disagreements, where Hamas want to keep the interior and finance ministers, to ensure that the corruption that took place under Fatah in the past is not repeated again.
Fatah has refused, and their rejection translated to violence on both sides that have killed over a dozen Palestinian in the last a few days. The US and Israel are supporting Abbas, and the international community is tightening its sanction with the hope that the government will crumble soon.
Name
Mohamed
- Egypt
Profession
Student
Question
What are the different factions in Palestine?
Answer
In Palestine there are two sets of factions, ones that were (and still) associated with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), an umbrella organization that historically represented the grievances and demands of Palestinians and is recognized regionally and internationally; and others that were born outside the PLO apparatus. The PLO factions are led by Fatah, who dominated the PLO for many years, but also include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Communist Party, etc.
The two major non-PLO parties are Hamas (which was born only a few days after the first Palestinian uprising of 1987 and it champions an Islamic, but also a national agenda) and the Islamic Jihad, which unlike Hamas is mostly focused on militant activities with little popular and political dimensions, though this is changing a bit.
The PLO was sidelined following Arafat’s signing of the Oslo accords with Israeli in 1993 and the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Occupied Territories.
Following its win in January 2006, Hamas has offered to revitalize the PLO but in away that reflects in political majority, a demand that was vehemently rejected by the Fatah, who has always controlled the PLO’s thus its political posture and direction. Abbas is now reverting to the PLO and giving it greater political value, thus taking away some of the PA’s powers, now that it’s controlled by Hamas.
Name
muhammad bin muhsin
- South Africa
Profession
Question
salaam to all, Is the so called "Prisoner,s document" authentic and has hamas decided on a Palestinian state within 1967 borders and Quds as the capital?
Is the islamic movement within the 1948 border conducting an armed struggle against Israel? Do they participate in the Israeli parliament? If not, how do they engage with the policies of israeli government?
Answer
The Prisoner’s document is indeed authentic and was composed by the leading political prisoners of Hamas and Fatah, with the aim of ending the political deadlock, unify the Palestinian rank at a time that Israel is determined to carry outs its so called Convergence plan in the West Bank.
The document accepts a two state solution as the leading principal to resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict, a view that is consistent with the Fatah political posture for many years. Hamas has traditionally rejected such a view, but is accepting it now with a slight change of words: semantics more or less:
Hamas agrees to what is calls a permanent state of Hudna (truce), long enough to allow both parties to establish needed confidence building measures and perhaps find a final solution to the decade long conflict.
Israel says that using such tactics, Hamas wants to built its military strength to destroy Israel, which by any military standards impossible considering the disparity of power between both sides.
The other part of the question: Palestinians in Israel, including the Islamic movement are not using any sort of military resistance, but are mostly engaged in the country’s political process.
Arabs in general are treated as second class citizens with much fewer rights in comparison to the Jewish citizens of the country. In many Israeli circles they are not considering full citizens because they are now Jewish.
While secular Arab movements inside Israel has opted to participate in the political process for many years, the Islamic movement(s) always wrangled with the idea, some saying it’s a necessary evil, and others rather to stay out. The issue has not be completely resolved.
Name
Breathe
-
Profession
Question
Why is it that the Palestinians can't think beyond their noses?
They are fighting between themselves like little school kids without being able to focus on the bigger picture, Israel.
What is the reason behind this strange irrational behavior?
Answer
Good questions; first, I don’t think there are any justification to shedding the blood of the innocent, Palestinian or any other, and there are no justification to what is going on in Palestine right now.
Second, however, self-admonishment aside, one must not too hasty to conclude that the newest episode of violence witnesses in Gaza was a spontaneous event, spurred by lack of discipline on the part of a few rouge elements; rather, it’s a facet of the thus-far unsuccessful, prolonged coup d'état to topple the elected Palestinian government, which was declared candidly by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, demanded by Israel, and entrusted to President Abbas and some factions within his party.
Indeed, this is not a war between religious zealots and democratic secularists; far from it. It’s a battle of many meanings, each tailored and define to suit the interests and manage the concerns of the many parties involved, and indeed, they are not all Palestinian.
This is a classic case of foreign interference, using and manipulating existing difference between sects (like in Iraq) or political parties (like in Palestine).
It’s easy for me to write from London or Washington, chastising Palestinians for failing to do this or that, but the reality on the ground is much harsher that one may think.
You have a nation that is on the brink of starvation, and many regional and international powers hell bent on achieving their political objectives despite of the popular view of the Palestinians. Considering all of this, I am surprised that a full fledge civil war didn’t break out yet and much sooner; I pray it doesn’t.
Name
Sarah -
-
Profession
Question
Why is the United States supporting Abu Mazen?
Answer
The advent of Hamas, an Islamic party with a strong anti Israeli occupation agenda and who strongly opposes the US’ regional designs was bad news for the Bush administration, which is trying to tailor the Middle East (as was once envisioned by Washington’s neoconservatives) to serve Israel’s interest.
By coming to power in a peaceful transition, Hamas has significantly harmed the Bush administration’s ‘vision’ of democracy in the Middle East, one that is bolted with at the assumption that pro-America’s regional allies can possibly achieve a façade of democracy without any major overhauling of their political systems that might endanger US interests.
The Iraqi election was hoped to be the dominant model, not Hamas’.
But also, while most Arab countries, whether out of fear or willingly, helped tighten the siege on the Palestinian government, Iran stepped up to the plate offering financial assistance and political validation to an ostracized and increasingly isolated government.
This has cemented the alliance between Iran and Hamas (with Syria and Hizbollah being the other players), turning the Hamas question into a regional one. If Hamas prevails, Washington will understand this as a victory for the Iran camp, and a huge political defeat for Washington, whose import in the region is dwindling any way.
Name
AbdulHakim
-
Profession
Question
Do you think the following verse can be used to describe the decision of Hamas to turn to Moscow?
And you see those in whose hearts there is a disease (of hypocrisy), they hurry to their friendship, saying: "We fear lest some misfortune of a disaster may befall us" Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will. Then they will become regretful for what they have been keeping as a secret in themselves. (5:52)
Answer
It’s a beautiful verse and rings true in many ways, but since I am not a religious scholar, I will not be able to discuss the application of the verse.
As for the turning to Moscow, part of the government’s ceaseless (and frankly desperate efforts) to balance out the pressure infused by the US and its camp (the EU, a few Arab countries, and Fatah, of course).
Hamas hoped that by looking eastward, to Muslim and Asian countries including Russia, it will be able to foster an alternative front that will spare the PA its utter dependency on American and European funds.
The tactic was successful in the sense that many countries (including some Europeans and now Latin American) were willing to engage, if not openly support Hamas.
However, it failed at the technical front, where there was no way to transfer the money considering that Palestine’s Arab neighbours, Abbas and most financial institutions that operate in the Palestinian territories refused to cooperate. This rendered their support irrelevant.
Name
Ahmed
-
Profession
Question
How is these factions able to sneak in weapons into Palestine from Egypt etc... but not money?
Answer
Good question. Of course the answer would have to be based on common sense. I am sure that some money makes it through, but not enough as hundreds of millions of dollars needed to sustain the economy.
Name
Rasha
-
Profession
Question
My question may be silly. But i need to know what is the nature of Hamas Movement? and Why its supporters resort to the bombing attacks?!
Answer
Hamas is essentially a resistant, militant movement that was born out of Gaza’s Muslim Brotherhood branch and morphed into a formidable political force in later years.
I believe that discussing the suicide bombing attacks is not as much relevant to Hamas as a movement as it’s to the entire Palestinian resistance movement, which has more or less resorted to such tactics in the past. These tactics reflected the harshness of the Israeli occupation, but as a strategy proved futile (I think).
Name
Hous bin Fard'een
- Bahrain
Profession
Investment Caterer
Question
Is it true that all of the factions are riddled with graft and corruption and, if so, what must be done to rid ourselves of these elements??
Answer
This takes us back to the question of democracy. Not American view of Middle East Democracy, but rather one that is as close to the ideal as possible.
If Palestinians or any other Arab nation for that matter, are allowed to experiment with an practice true democracy, this will eventually lead to the espousing of a meaningful civil society; one that is capable of monitoring, pressuring and holding to account those in charge. This is the best and most effective way of dealing with corruption.
The international response to what is going on in Palestine right now is the complete antithesis of this prescription.
Name
Wakel
-
Profession
Question
Do you think that recognizing Israel is good for Hamas? Will they have access to the paradise! Mahmoud Abbas and Arafat recognized Israel, What did they gain!!
Answer
Recognizing Israel as one of three demands imparted on Hamas is more or less a ruse. Israel and behind it America are insistent on finding pretexts to justify why Palestinians should not be engaged in any political process.
Arafat was ready to go as far as they wanted him to, but he was dubbed a ‘terrorist’. Abbas, after him, was seen as too weak and indecisive. And now Hamas is labelled with every word in the book.
The problem with recognition is that Hamas would be recognizing Israel’s borders that claim ownership over large chunks of the West Bank. It really makes no sense then, Israel doesn’t recognize the Palestinian government or a Palestinian state, so why should the Palestinians?
Name
Felicity Ambutthole
- United Kingdom
Profession
Journalist
Question
May one be optimistic or pessimistic about freedom of the press in Gaza and the West Bank?
Answer
I would say more or less optimistic. For decades now, Palestinians have managed to espouse a very rich and diverse press whether legally, meaning under the restriction of Israeli censors, or otherwise. After Oslo, there were many attempts to suffocate the Palestinian press by Arafat and his henchmen. But that too utterly failed.
Name
iman
- Canada
Profession
Question
Please, I find what's going on heartbtreaking. What can we do to help the Palestinian people themselves?
Answer
Thank you, Iman. While solidifying with the Palestinian people is badly needed at this time, I believe that you can help Palestine and the Palestinians in many ways, it depends on where you are in the world.
There are many charities that provide medical, financial and other tangible help for the Palestinians. In the US there is KinderUSA and in Britain you have, InterPal, etc.
But what is more important, in my opinion is to try to foster solidarity groups in your city and country to pressure the governments to positively engage the Palestinian and not isolate their government.
Make sure that the media is fair in the way it convey the story; make sure that the Palestinians are not demonized while they should be admired; and if you are a religious person, regardless of what religion, do pray for Palestine. They don't deserve this fate. No body does.
