Hamas | The American Task Force on Palestine

Gaza's Hamas rulers to introduce Hebrew
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 23, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A senior Hamas official in Gaza says the territory's militant rulers intend to begin teaching Hebrew for high school students beginning next year. Ziad Thabet, the education ministry undersecretary, said Monday the government is trying to find and train teachers. He says students should be introduced to as many languages as possible. Hebrew, the chief language of Israelis, is now only offered as a university course. Thabet says the Gaza government still needs to approve the decision, but it is likely to go ahead.

Hamas Still Not Ready for Prime Time
In Print by Hussein Ibish - The Daily Beast (Opinion) - April 23, 2012 - 12:00am

In a wide-ranging interview with the Jewish Daily Forward, Hamas leader Mousa Abu Marzook again demonstrated the difficult position in which his organization finds itself. Due to the Arab uprisings, the region’s strategic landscape is now primarily defined by sectarian allegiances. As a result, Hamas's external leadership is trying to reintegrate the organization into the mainstream Sunni Arab fold, cultivating closer ties with states like Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, while distancing itself from Iran and abandoning Syria altogether.

UN Rights Office Says Gaza Death Sentences Unlawful, Urges Hamas to Halt Planned Firing Squad
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Associated Press
April 20, 2012 - 12:00am

GENEVA — The U.N.’s human rights office says three men recently sentenced to death in the Palestinian territory of Gaza were executed unlawfully. A spokesman for U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says the men didn’t have regular access to lawyers and were tried by a military court despite being civilians. Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva that the death sentences carried out by hanging April 7 also weren’t approved by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as required by law.

Fatah official blames Hamas for reconciliation delay
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 19, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) -- The secretary-general of Fatah's revolutionary council said Thursday that Hamas was to blame for suspending reconciliation talks. Amin Maqboul told Ma'an that some members of Hamas in Gaza are afraid to lose their privileges if a unity government is formed and presidential and parliamentary elections are held. He added that Fatah is open to all initiatives, whether Arab or Palestinian, to revive reconciliation talks. "There are some verbal initiatives, but we don't rely on such announcements or meetings if it doesn't aim to end the split totally," Maqboul said.

Hamas Wouldn’t Honor a Treaty, Top Leader Says
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Daily Forward
by Larry Cohler-Esses - (Interview) April 19, 2012 - 12:00am

Cairo — Any agreement reached between Israel and the Palestinian Authority will be subject to far-reaching changes if Hamas comes to power in a democratic Palestinian state, a top Hamas leader told the Forward in an exclusive and wide-ranging interview.

In Gaza, Hamas rule has not turned out as many expected
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Washington Post
by Karin Brulliard - April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

GAZA CITY — The housing stipends, promised by Hamas social workers after much of Umm Mohammed’s neighborhood was demolished in an Israeli military assault three years ago, never came. The water barrels pledged by municipal authorities seemed to go only to Hamas cadres. Electricity is a rarity. And as Israeli airstrikes targeting Palestinian militants pounded the Gaza Strip last month, the housewife said, the enclave’s Hamas rulers watched from “their chairs” — lingo here for cushy seats of power.

Raed Salah’s return
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jerusalem Post
(Editorial) April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement’s Northern Branch and an Israeli Arab convicted Hamas collaborator, arrived back to a hero’s welcome Monday after 10 months under restrictive bail conditions in the UK, during which he fought and defeated a deportation order. Some 300 supporters hailed him at Ben-Gurion Airport with earsplitting chants of “Allahu Akhbar.”

Britain's duty to the Palestinian people
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Raed Salah - (Opinion) April 18, 2012 - 12:00am

In June 2011 I came to Britain to begin a speaking tour to draw attention to the plight of my people, the Palestinian citizens of Israel. The tour was meant to last 10 days. Instead I had to stay for 10 months in order to resist an attempt by the home secretary, Theresa May, to deport me – itself the result of a smear campaign against me and what I represent. I fought not just for my own sake, but for all who are smeared because they support the Palestinian cause.

New Hamas politburo 'remains confidential'
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
April 16, 2012 - 12:00am

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The results of Hamas' internal leadership re-shuffle are still confidential, party officials said Monday. Hamas officials, speaking to Ma'an on condition of anonymity, denied that there had been any clashes over the process which took place in Gaza recently. The Shura Council, a 55-member advisory body, nominates candidates to form the politburo, and those selected must accept their positions or provide acceptable reasons to refuse. Political analyst Mustafa al-Sawwaf told Ma'an current politburo chief Khalid Mashaal was likely to retain his post.

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