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“We know that all things work together for
good for those who love God…”
(Romans 8:28)
Before we engage in both analysis and prognosis of the
Palestinian election, it is important to humble oneself before God and to
the way history moves and turns always surprising us with changes that on
the surface may seem dangerous and threatening but eventually could be for
our good. We believe in the sovereignty of God over the affairs of this
world. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and God’s ways are not our ways.
We need to put our full confidence and trust in God. With the Psalmist we
say, Trust in the Lord, and do good;
so you will live in the land, and enjoy security.
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:3-4) The so-called peace
process between Israel and the Palestinians has often had to be
resuscitated by shock treatment. The first and second Intifadas were
such examples, and now this – Hamas is in power. All these earth-shaking
tremors were sudden and completely unexpected. There has been no peace
process going on for many years now, and Israel has been clamping down
on the Palestinian people more and more oppressively to stop an
explosion. Well, the explosion has nevertheless taken place but this
time in a democratic and peaceful way.
Up to the last minute before the Palestinian election, the polls showed
that Fatah, the main Palestinian party, and the party in government,
would win by a small margin. On Wednesday, January 25, 2006, 77.69% of
the Palestinian voters cast their ballots. To the shock of the
Palestinian community, Hamas won a sweeping victory with 74 seats out of
132 in the Legislative Council, while Fatah obtained 45 seats. Four of
the other competing parties by comparison, hardly won 2 or 3 seats each.
It must be remembered that Fatah, under the leadership of Yasser Arafat
led the Palestinian struggle since the mid 1960’s as the largest and
most influential party. Hamas on the other hand is less than 20 years
old.
Sabeel would like to share its assessment and analysis of the situation
to help people understand the challenges that lie ahead.
1. Fatah, Hamas, and the Occupation
Hamas, an Arabic acronym for “Muslim Resistance Movement,” emerged at
the height of the first intifada. Hamas combined religious ideology with
Palestinian nationalism. In its early stages it was encouraged by Israel
with the hope of weakening the PLO. As Hamas grew in strength it became
Israel’s nightmare. It championed the armed struggle against the
occupation, met Israeli violence with violence, rejected Israel’s right
to exist, and called for the liberation of the whole of Palestine
including the areas on which Israel was founded.
About the same time that Hamas emerged, the Palestinian National Council
(PNC) meeting in Algiers, and for the sake of peace, recognized the
state of Israel within the 1967 borders and agreed to engage it through
peaceful negotiations, with the hope of ending the occupation and
establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel. While the Palestinian
Authority (PA) language became more in line with the demands of a
peaceful solution, Israel’s military actions against the Palestinians
continued unabated.
As corruption, complacency, and mismanagement increased within the ranks
of the PA, Hamas was gaining more respect and popularity for its
educational and humanitarian work among the people. Moreover, Hamas was
perceived as disciplined, organized and free of financial corruption. In
fact, it ran its election campaign under the slogan of “change and
reform” and its slate contained non-Hamas candidates.
2. No Light at the End of the Tunnel
Unfortunately, the peace process kept meandering and faltering and
Israel did not enable President Mahmoud Abbas to deliver anything to his
people, particularly the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israel
resumed its targeted assassination even when Hamas kept the “period of
calm” for 53 days. Israel flouted the legal opinion of the International
Court of Justice and continued to build the separation wall on
Palestinian Land. It wrenched an agreement from President Bush to annex
three large settlement blocks. It fragmented the West Bank and set up
hundreds of checkpoints. It ruled out negotiating the future of
Jerusalem, the return of refugees, and the 1967 borders. It closed the
door on the creation of a viable, independent Palestinian State. It
pursued its unilateral policies completely disregarding the Palestinian
people, who found themselves with no political horizon. All of this
under the watchful eye of the United States, the UN, the EU, and the
indifference of the Arab countries. Hamas filled the vacuum.
3. Sign of Change
While continuing to promote a two-state solution, Sabeel perceives a
change in the stand of Hamas in this direction, though not a recognition
of Israel yet. Hamas is also suggesting a very long term cease-fire (hudna).
Their stand is to halt the armed struggle and leave the matter of ending
the conflict to future generations. After all, Ariel Sharon had always
called for a Palestinian State with interim borders. We believe that
ending the occupation and the recognition of the national and human
rights of the Palestinian people by Israel, will move Hamas in the right
direction towards moderation.
We need to bear in mind the following points as we anticipate the
future.
1. The Palestinian election was democratically conducted with hardly any
infractions. This fact is concrete proof of Palestinian commitment to
democracy.
2. It is important to seek the end of all violence, beginning with the
Israeli occupation. If Hamas is going to be pressured to pursue the way
of nonviolence, Israel must do the same.
3. Whether Hamas or Fatah is in government the Palestinian people still
live under the oppressive Israeli occupation. We appeal to all people of
goodwill to use every nonviolent means to put pressure on Israel to end
its occupation.
4. The only way toward moderation on all sides is for the international
community to pursue an even handed policy with both sides. A double
standard approach and the rush to stop foreign aid will only lead to
disaster.
5. Speaking at the press conference, after the elections, Khaled Mish’al,
the head of the Political Council of Hamas, ended with the words, “Let
us be humble before God and before our people…we will not commit
injustice to anyone….” It is Sabeel’s hope that Hamas really means these
words and will seek a peaceful reconciliation between the Palestinians
and the Israelis.
In this new political environment Sabeel seeks to be a bridge helping to
implement the principles of justice, peace and reconciliation for all
the people in our land. We hope that political and religious leaders
from all countries and all faiths will join Sabeel in working quickly
and openly for a two-state solution- a safe and secure Palestine
alongside a safe and secure Israel.
Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center
Jerusalem
www.sabeel.org
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