Fabien Nony

Master 2 ingénierie politique

NEWS POINT: COULD HAMAS BE «THE PARTY OF PEACE»?

After many years of Fatah's domination, the Islamist movement Hamas has won the last Palestinian parliamentary elections. It now has 76 seats in the Palestinian assembly, against 43 fot the Fatah. But, considering the vote, it just had few points more than the Fatah. As a logical consequence of this victory, the next Palestinian Prime Minister might be a member of the radical movement. Born in the 80's, the Hamas still officially wants the destruction of Israel. But it has recently been observing a long ceasefire, after having long attacked Israel with suicide-bombers. Israel has always refused to negociate with the Hamas, and killed the spiritual leader of the organization. Hamas is classified by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organisation. But the governments are now wondering what to do. Must they work with a future Hamas government? Must it be rejected as long as it hasn't changed its mind about Israel and the peace process? They must first know what the real intentions of Hamas...and of the future Israeli government are.

For a Guardian journalist, the Hamas could be the « peace party », because it is highly disciplined, and can practise « real politics ». Like the Israeli government, it doesn't believe in a final status for the next years. Disarming the militias, renouncing to violence, and recognizing violence could be the condition for a compromise by the Hamas, who would bring the occupation to an end.

Is this possible? Some people have a more pessimistic point of view. Shaul Mofaz, probably the future Israeli Prime Minister, recently said « From my standpoint, it doesn't look like Hamas intends to give up its ideology regarding Israel’s destruction, and it doesn't intend to recognize Israel ». The latter has adamantly said that, if the future Palestinian Prime Minister came from the Hamas, he would stop all relations with the Palestinian authority. This means the end of tax transfer : a very bad news for the Palestinian economy. A big majority of the international community agreed with the Israeli government and their American friends: they first want Hamas to recognize Israel, and renounce to violence. For The New York Times, the Americans and Israelis have a special plan to destabilize any Hamas administration, and to impose new elections. They want to block funding for the Palestinian authority. In the case of Hamas, they have refused to accept the results of democratic elections. Putin is the only world leader to have accepted the Hamas: he has invited the leaders of the movement.

Has the international community made the right choice? Nobody can accept a movement which wants to destroy a State. But how is it possible to refuse to discuss with a movement which has won the elections, when you are always talking about « democracy »? New elections could produce an even bigger victory for the Hamas, whom victory was mainly due to Fatah's corruption and chaotic authority. True, the positions of Hamas are far from those of the Israelis. The Palestinian movement wants a return to the borders of 1967, and the right of return for the refugees (exactly like all Palestinian organisations). But what about Israel’s plans ? The government wants to keep 3 main West Bank Settlements, and all of Jerusalem. And they have organized a de-facto annexation of the Valley of the Jordan. They are continuing to build new settlements, even if they have destroyed some isolated establishments. According to The Economist, this is unacceptable for the Palestinians. Which party should make the first step towards peace?

SOURCES:

BBC news

Guardian(on the web)

The Economist, February, 13^th 2006