Hamas hires media wiz
Organization to pay spin doctor USD 180,000 to boost its image among Americans, Europeans. Hamas has an image problem, advisor says
According to the report, quoted in Israel's leading newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the consultant is Dr. Nashat Aqtash, a media professor at the Birzeit University in Ramallah.
Aqtash was entrusted with helping Hamas in persuading the western nations the organization was not a fanatical religious group that takes pleasure in suicide bombings and hating Jews.
"Hamas has an image problem. The Israelis were able to create a very bad image of the Palestinians in general and particularly Muslims and Hamas. My contract is to project the right image," Aqtash explained.
"Hamas does not believe in terrorism or killing civilians. But Ariel Sharon pressed buttons to make people angry. Sometimes we are innocent enough to react in a way that the Israelis use the reaction against us," Aqtash added.
Another strategic campaign move Hamas has taken ahead of elections was to place a Christian candidate on its list for the legislative Council, in a bid to blur the movement's fundamental Muslim message and stress the party is set to represent all Palestinians, regardless of their faith.
The new candidate, a Christian Orthodox from Gaza named Hussam al-Tawil, is one of the Strip's 2000 Christians' prominent leaders. In its publications, Hamas has highlighted Tawil, in hope this will help soften its image as an extremist Islamist group.
Ronny Shaked contributed to the report
