Hamas | The American Task Force on Palestine

Hamas popularity hits a new low after opposing UN statehood bid
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Christian Science Monitor
by Kristen Chick - October 6, 2011 - 12:00am

Of the many complaints in Gaza, one has become a popular refrain: the increasing taxes levied by Hamas. Fathi Abu Gamar, a gas station owner in Jabaliya refugee camp, readily joins the chorus: The Islamist movement that rules this tiny coastal territory takes more than half his revenue from gas sales, he says, leaving him with a tiny profit.

Hamas is 'backing protesters' says Syria
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The National
by Phil Sands - October 2, 2011 - 12:00am

Damascus // Syria's relationship with Hamas is increasingly strained over the Palestinian group's refusal to openly endorse Damascus and its tactics in suppressing an anti-regime uprising, according to figures close to both sides. Once firm allies, the Syrian authorities, led by President Bashar Al Assad, and the Islamic resistance movement, headed by Khalid Meshaal from his headquarters in Damascus, are now barely on speaking terms, regime officials and an Islamic cleric close to Hamas said.

Hamas Missed its Chance
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Abdullah Iskandar - (Opinion) September 29, 2011 - 12:00am

Let us go through the best case scenario in regard to President Mahmoud Abbas’ request before the Security Council to earn the recognition of the Palestinian state: The Council decides during today’s session to transfer the request to the commission in charge of examining the petitions, which is at the same time composed of the fifteen member states. The committee ratifies the request and transfers it for voting at the Council, where it earns the sufficient number of votes (nine and above) only to be obstructed by the announced American veto and be consequently toppled.

Hamas: Headquarters to remain in Syria
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency
September 13, 2011 - 12:00am

Hamas confirmed on Monday that it would not be moving its headquarters from Syria following unrest in the country, a party statement said. “We confirm that the news reports on some media outlets claiming that the movement considers moving its offices or part of its leadership from Damascus, upon request from Syrian security, are false and not real at all,” the statement said. Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar had previously said that several options were being explored in light of the security situation in Syria which is "dangerous for all Palestinians, not just Hamas."

Hamas’s Silence and Hezbollah’s Voice
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Jameel Theyabi - (Opinion) September 12, 2011 - 12:00am

Many do not trust the movements of political Islam that raise flashy slogans, frighten people with threats of grief and destruction, announce their resistance and rejectionism but at the same time remain silent vis-à-vis the actions of the tyrants and the rifles of the dictators that are pointed toward the heads of the “peaceful” demonstrators. I wanted to go over Hamas’s position in comparison with Hezbollah’s stand. Hamas, its Politburo Chief Khaled Meshaal, and Haniyeh and Al-Zahhar from behind him are all utterly “silent” toward the developments in Syria!

Hamas considering relocating HQ to Cairo
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ynetnews
by Elior Levy - (Analysis) September 9, 2011 - 12:00am

Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar announced Friday that the movement is consierjung relocating its headquarters from Damascus to Cairo. It is the first time a senior Hamas official openly admitted such a plan. "All the Palestinians in Syria are in distress, not just Hamas. There are many options in terms of the organization's headquarters and Egypt is one of them," he said.

News Analysis: Hamas leaders oppose UN bid, official position still undecided
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Xinhua
by Saud Abu Ramadan - September 9, 2011 - 12:00am

GAZA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the countdown has started for submitting a request to the United Nations to demand full membership for the state of Palestine later this month, leaders of the Islamic Hamas movement said they are against the bid, but the movement's official position is still undecided. In a previous interview with Xinhua on Wednesday, Yousef Rezqah, an aide to the deposed premier of Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip said his movement opposes the attitude to approach the UN for recognition, "because Hamas believes that rights are grabbed and not begged."

Hamas regime needs the Gaza blockade
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Amira Hass - (Opinion) September 7, 2011 - 12:00am

How embarrassing. While solidarity activists are planning new protests against the blockade of the Gaza Strip, the Hamas government is adding to limitations on Palestinians' freedom of movement. One might justifiably ask: What are a few high school students Hamas refuses to allow to travel to the United States to study as opposed to 1.5 million Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in Gaza?

Israel arrests Hamas leader in West Bank
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Statesman
September 1, 2011 - 12:00am

The Israeli military says a militant Hamas leader whose son collaborated with Israel has been arrested in the West Bank. The military would not say why Hassan Yousef of the Islamic Hamas group was taken into custody or provide any other details. Yousef was released from an Israeli prison a month ago after serving six years. Shortly afterward, he told an Israeli TV station that the Palestinians are planning demonstrations to support their quest for U.N. endorsement of a Palestinian state after the General Assembly convenes in late September.

The problem with Palestinian political leadership
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Guardian
by Ben White - (Opinion) September 1, 2011 - 12:00am

For a few months now, discussion of Palestine/Israel has focused on the looming UN vote on Palestinian statehood, but this is obscuring more fundamental problems in the Palestinian political arena – of which the forthcoming UN vote is a symptom. In three critical areas, there are significant flaws hampering Palestinian political leadership.

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