Hamas: We didn’t sell out
After establishing unity government with Fatah, Hamas launches campaign to clarify that group is not surrendering hard-line principles; ‘Any Hamas leader who ever recognizes Israel will be kicked out,’ declares Hamas lawmaker
Hamas stressed that the basic doctrine of the new Hamas-Fatah Palestinian government, which was sworn in Saturday, does not constitute a retreat from the movement's historical principles.
The Palestinian press, however, is reporting serious disagreements within the group regarding the new government’s basic doctrine.
Outgoing Foreign Minister Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar launched an assault on the new government’s principles during a speech Monday calling them weak and insufficient.
'No fissures'
Hamas faction member Mushir al-Masri however insisted that there were no disagreements or fissures within the party. He said Hamas’ principles had not changed in any way.
The government’s platform, he explained, constitutes common basic principles that are meant to unite all the Palestinian factions but do not necessarily express all aspects of Hamas’ stance.
“There isn’t a chance any Hamas leader will ever recognize Israel,” said outgoing Interior Minister Said Siam. “We will not betray our values and we will not betray our land. We will leave this world as shahids (martyrs) without recognizing Israel.”
Siam further noted that if any Hamas member dared recognize Israel, he would be swiftly ejected from the movement. Siam did not deny, however, that considering Hamas’ values the current unity government was not ideal. However, the deadly intra-Palestinian conflicts necessitated certain concessions, he noted.
Hamas spokesperson Dr. Ismail Radwan also declared that Hamas’ values had not changed. Hamas considers resistance operations to be a strategic option to respond to the enemy’s crimes, Radwan declared.
Unity not for everyone
The comments by senior Hamas leaders indicate that there was indeed resistance within the movement during the process of establishing the unity government, especially regarding signing basic principles which do not entirely reflect their views.
Many militant Islamic groups severely criticized Hamas for “selling out their principles.”
Al-Qaeda second-in-command Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri slammed Hamas on numerous occasions, including in a tape broadcast on al-Jazzeera in which he consoles the Muslim world for the death of Hamas as a fighting Islamic group. Hamas sold out their principles for a few seats in the Palestinian government, al-Zawahiri charged.
Meanwhile, in an official statement Hamas denied reports that the appointment of Mahammad Dahlan as national security advisor was in cooperation with PA President Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas criticized the appointment Monday morning saying Dahlan was not a unifying figure and his appointment was steeped in controversy. Fatah however said Hamas’ statement was not justified as the appointment was made with the agreement of both sides.
