[Economist-UK] In their oath of loyalty, members of Hamas declare that death in the cause of God is their supreme desire. But following Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007, the challenge of ruling the territory confronted the Islamists with a stark choice between ideology and pragmatism. Hamas hardliners demanded rocket strikes to torment Israel. The surge of impotent rage in Gaza over Israel's violence will momentarily boost Hamas' standing, but Gazans may then ask what brought them to this awful pass.
2009-01-02 06:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive