The Victory of Hamas
by Jérémy Pierre-Nadal and Junayd Bourret
MAP

Introduction

The last parliamentary elections in Palestine, which gave an important victory to the militant group named Hamas, involve a new deal in the Middle East.

The international community did not envisage this configuration, betting on a renewal of  Fatah, the party of president Mahmud Abbas.

The threat that the Hamas’victory blocks the peace’s process is real. In fact, this organization advocates the destruction of Israel and refuses its obligations under the roadmap to which Israel and Palestinian’s Authority are committed.

Sources

The BBC is innovative, progressive and pioneering - the British Broadcasting Corporation has proved a powerful force in the 20th century - providing entertainment, education and information, and captivating millions of viewers and listen. According to them, the BBC News Online is the best of BBC News on the Web and it’s an unrivalled resource of authoritative fact and comment.

The Times is one of the oldest British newspapers, created towards the end of the eighteenth century. It has been bought by Rupert Murdoch, the owner of The Sun, Sky TV and Fox News.

The Guardian is a left-wing daily British newspaper, specialized in in-depth analysis and comment on UK and world news, politics, business (the weekly version: the Observer).

The Times, January 30th
Hamas faces cash crisis, as Israel stops tax funds

The price of Hamas's victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections started to become clear today.
Even though the Islamist group has yet to form a government, it has already been repeatedly warned by the US, Israel and the EU that the Palestinian Authority will face a crippling cut in international aid unless it renounces violence and recognises Israel's right to exist. Its leaders have so far refused.
Hamas has responded indignantly to threats to cut off international funding to the Palestinian population, calling it blackmail.

The Hamas leaders have appealed to the European Union not to halt funding to the Palestinian Authority following the militant group's election victory.
The European Union is the Palestinian Authority’s largest donor, giving about 606 millions dollars a year.
However, it would be “unthinkable" for the European Union to continue to fund the Palestinian Authority , unless Hamas renounces violence against Israel.
The US, EU, UN and Russia, co-sponsors of the stalled roadmap peace plan, will be looking at the prospects for peace in the Middle East in the light of Hamas’ surprise victory.

The Guardian, January 30th
Hamas will make a deal

The fact that Hamas does not, and will not, recognise the legitimacy of the state of Israel does not mean that Hamas is not capable of negotiating a peace deal that would end the bloodshed. However, Israel is a reality and that is why Hamas is willing to deal with that reality in a manner that is compatible with its principles.
The IRA, whose leaders negotiated a deal with the British government, continues to dream of uniting Northern Ireland with the Republic; it was never a condition for the peace talks that they should first abandon that dream.

Personal statement

         The Hamas victory offers two prospects which could have opposed consequences for peace in the Middle East.

            If  Hamas renounces to violence against Israel and accepts the roadmap’s conditions, the peace process could be reinforced. In fact, Hamas has always been an obstacle for peace because of its terrorists activities against Israel. However, we can suppose that the arrival on power and the international’s pressure urge Hamas to abandon its most contestable principles.
Therefore, the area will be in a favorable context for peace.

            In opposite, if Hamas remains on its positions, the situation could quickly degenerate. Negotiations would become impossible between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Moreover,  in this hypothesis, the international aid will be stopped and we can imagine that other sources of funding, more obscure, will ensue.                                                                                                                     

            The future will reveal if Hamas uses its democratic legitimacy to justify extremism or pragmatism.