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Hamas' Post-Election Strategy: Step-by-Step to the Liberation of Palestine

(Institute for Counter-Terrorism) Asaf Maliach - A terrorist organization has won the right to rule the Palestinian Authority, while still refusing to recognize the State of Israel, abandon its armed struggle, or renew the peace process. Khalid Mash'al, head of Hamas' political bureau, said on Jan. 28: "We believe in operating in stages, gradually and realistically. We can achieve our rights step by step and establish our state." Mash'al noted earlier that Hamas is ready to unite the various military wings of all organizations into one Palestinian army, "as exists in other countries." This army will operate, according to him, to liberate the rest of the Palestinian territories, to defend the Palestinian people, and to return the Palestinians' rights. Mash'al noted that the establishment of a Palestinian army will not interfere with the role of the Iz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, that "will continue to defend the Palestinian people." Hamas' call for a "hudna" with Israel is a maneuver commonly used by radical Islamic organizations to reestablish and strengthen their power without being exposed to danger from their adversaries. The "hudna" is intended to serve the step-by-step program that Hamas advocates for the liberation of all of Palestine, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River.
2006-02-17 00:00:00
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