Tag Archive for hamas

| June 23, 2012
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Arab World: Siege mentality

The Hamas leadership in Gaza has been energized by its expectations that the Muslim Brotherhood will soon be in control in Egypt and sees itself as the vanguard of an anti-Israeli front.

By JONATHAN SPYER

 

This week, the Hamas rulers of Gaza chose to abruptly shatter the fragile framework of assumptions which have governed relations between Israel and Gaza since the conclusion of Operation Cast Lead in early 2009. By taking responsibility for the launch of a barrage of Kassam rockets into the Negev, Hamas essentially announced the birth of a new phase in its long war of attrition with Israel. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| June 23, 2012
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Fayyad: Hamas losing support in Gaza, West Bank

PA PM says Gaza-based group avoiding elections because it is pessimistic about results; condemns Netanyahu over settlements.

By JPOST.COM STAFF

 

Hamas has been avoiding elections because it is pessimistic about their outcome, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad said in an interview with The Washington Post published Friday.

“It is a well-known fact borne out by various opinion polls that there has been a steady erosion in Hamas’s standing, both in the West Bank and Gaza,” Fayyad said. “I believe that is why they have been dodging elections.”

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad

Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad - Photo: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Fayyad said that it was unacceptable that elections have not been held recently in the Palestinian Authority, calling a vote “overdue” and saying that it is “something I believe is going to happen, and I hope sooner rather than later.”

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 23, 2012
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The Gaza Strip – Will normality ever return?

The Islamists of Hamas are being squeezed towards pragmatism

from the print edition

 

 

OVERCOMING five years of punishing siege, bombardment and war should be a cause for celebration. But Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that rules the coastal enclave of Gaza, was not cheering the anniversary of its military takeover on June 14th. Its initial pride at imposing internal security, constructing an effective administration and rebuilding Gaza by burrowing tunnels into Egypt is turning to embarrassment. Hamas officials have grown fat on the proceeds. The movement seems increasingly confused and evasive about its political direction.

The Economist

In recent months Hamas has dithered and bickered about whether it should seek reconciliation with Fatah, the secular-minded party that runs the bigger bit of the would-be Palestinian state on the West Bank, or preserve its near-monopoly on power in the isolated Gaza Strip.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| June 15, 2012
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Israel-Loving Ex-Terrorist in Open Visit

The ‘Son of Hamas’ who helped Israel’s war on terror has made his first open visit, expresses love for Israeli people.

 

By Maayana Miskin

 

 

Mosab Hassan Yousef’s life has been far from simple. Born in Ramallah to the founder and leader of Hamas, he made an about-face as a young adult and for several years helped Israel fight terrorism.

Yousef later converted to Christianity and moved to the United States. He wrote a book about his life story, titled Son of Hamas.

Now he is making his first open trip to Israel, as a guest of Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| June 14, 2012
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Jihad: Rabbis teach racism to Israeli kids

Top Islamic Jihad operative accuses rabbis of treating Palestinians like ‘snakes, bugs,’ says Palestinians have right to teach about ‘thieving Israeli enemy’

Elior Levy

 

 

A top Islamic Jihad operative on Wednesday accused Israeli rabbis of teaching hatred and racist values to children, a statement made in response to a recent report that Gaza kindergartens indoctrinate students into becoming terrorists.

Palestinian boy dressed as IDF soldier

Palestinian boy dressed as IDF soldier

“(Rabbis) treat Palestinian children and women as if they were snakes and bugs,” Khader Habib, a leader of the Gaza group told Ynet. “They don’t see them as normal people.”

Photographs released earlier this week showed a graduation ceremony celebrated at a Gaza preschool, during which the children donned army uniforms, carried rifles and staged scenes of torture purportedly inflicted on Palestinian prisoners by Israeli troops. Continue Reading »

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| June 14, 2012
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Int’l Aid Groups Blame Israel That Gaza Water Unfit to Drink

Two international aid organizations claim that Gaza’s water is unfit to drink, but they blame Israel for the problem.

By Chana Ya’ar

 

 

Two international aid organizations claim that Gaza’s water is unfit to drink. But instead of blaming the Hamas terrorist rulers who have maintained a choke hold on the region since June 2007, the groups claim Israel is responsible for the contamination.

The “Save the Children” foundation and “Medical Aid for Palestinians” charity insist that Israel’s blockade of Gaza prevents “crucial sanitation equipment from getting in,” the BBC reported Thursday. “The blockade must be lifted ‘in its entirety,’” wrote the BBC, quoting a report by the charities, “Gaza’s Children: Falling Behind.” Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| June 12, 2012
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Gaza kindergartners want to ‘blow up Zionists’

Kids at Islamic Jihad kindergarten celebrate end of year by demonstrating how Palestinian prisoners are ‘tortured’ in Israel. Teacher: We educate them to love resistance, Palestine

By Elior Levy

 

 

Children attending a kindergarten in Gaza that is run by Islamic Jihad celebrated their graduation by dressing up in army attire, waving toy rifles and chanting anti-Israel slogans.

“It is our obligation to educate the children to love the resistance, Palestine and Jerusalem, so they will recognize the importance of Palestine and who its enemy is,” the kindergarten’s director said.

 

מדמים חייל שמטביע עצור פלסטיני

'Palestinian prisoner tortured.'

 

The children were dressed up in uniforms of Jihad’s armed-wing, the al-Quds Brigades, and each of them received a toy rifle. Continue Reading »

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| June 12, 2012
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Missile Attack on Tel Aviv Might Force Evacuation

The entire population of Tel Aviv would be evacuated if unconventional missiles were to strike the city, a Home Front officer says.

By Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu

 

The entire population of Tel Aviv would be evacuated if unconventional missiles were to strike the city, a Home Front officer told the AFP news agency in an interview.

Colonel Adam Zusman, chief of the Home Front Command in metropolitan Tel Aviv, told the interviewer, “In case of a missile attack on the center of Israel, especially unconventional, the population from Tel Aviv and other cities will be evacuated and relocated in other areas of the country. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| June 6, 2012
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IDF strikes Gaza in response to rocket fire

Army says two arms caches bombed in response to rocket fire; Palestinians report two injuries. Hamas evacuating military facilities

 

Air Force jets attacked targets in the Gaza Strip in response to the recent firing of rockets at Israel. Palestinian sources noted that Hamas was evacuating all of its military and security facilities fearing additional strikes.

Archive photo Photo: AFP

Archive photo Photo: AFP

It was initially reported that an attack on a base in northern Gaza city killed one person and injured two, but Gaza’s emergency services spokesman denied any fatalities and reported that two Palestinians sustained moderate and serious injuries.

Palestinians searched for survivors under the rubble. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 30, 2012
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Poll: Majority of Palestinians think PA is corrupt

If new Palestinian elections were held today, West Bank’s ruling Fatah faction would still win, survey reveals.

More than 80 percent of Palestinians believe there is corruption in the Palestinian Authority, but Fatah, the ruling faction in the West Bank, would still win if new elections were held today, according to a public opinion poll published Tuesday.

Fatah member looks at list of candidates [file]

Fatah member looks at list of candidates - Photo: Fadi Arouri / Reuters

The poll, which was conducted by the Jerusalem Media & Communications Center, included 1188 Palestinians who were interviewed face-to-face in the West Bank and Gaza Strip last week. The poll has a margin of error of 3%.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| May 24, 2012
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Israeli companies win UN bids to reconstruct Gaza, angering Palestinians

Palestinian Contractors Union forbids members to collaborate with Israelis

 

A number of Israeli companies have recently won UN tenders for reconstruction projects in the Gaza Strip, enraging Palestinian contractors who claim they were outbid by the country that destroyed their infrastructure.

More than three years after Israel inflicted widespread damage on the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead, an offensive aimed at curtailing relentless Hamas rocket fire into Israel, two Israeli companies won bids issued by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to construct water plants in Gaza, London-based daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi reported Thursday.

Osama Kahil, deputy head of the Palestinian Contractors Union, told the daily that a number of Israeli companies have contacted contractors in Gaza offering them half of the bids’ revenue to execute the projects. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 24, 2012
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Shin Bet exposes Hebron terror cells

Internal security service says recent arrest of several Palestinian terrorists thwarted attack on Kiryat Arba; indictments filed

The Shin Bet internal security service cleared for publication on Wednesday that over the past few weeks it has exposed, in cooperation with the IDF, a number of terror cells in the Hebron area, Ynet reported.

One of the cells, which is affiliated with Hamas, was involved in a bombing attack, while another planned to kidnap Israelis in Kiryat Arba.

Explosive device used by terrorists

Explosive device used by terrorists

According to the Shin Bet’s announcement, as art of its preparation to kidnap Israelis the Hamas terror cell examined the IDF’s alertness by hurling explosive devices at the fence surrounding Kiryat Arba. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| May 19, 2012
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Haniyeh Criticizes U.S. Aid to Israel

Hamas’ Prime Minister in Gaza criticizes the U.S. decision to provide Israel with aid to purchase additional Iron Dome batteries.

Hamas’ Prime Minister in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, criticized on Friday the U.S. decision to provide Israel with aid to purchase additional Iron Dome batteries.

Ismail Haniyeh

Hamas PM Ismail - Photo By REUTERS

According to a report on Kol Yisrael radio, Haniyeh made the comments to pro-Palestinian Authority activists from several Arab and Muslim countries. Haniyeh claimed that providing aid to Israel will encourage it “to continue its war crimes.”

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak that the United States will immediately give Israel $70 million for additional Iron Dome batteries. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags:
| May 15, 2012
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Many winners, few losers in deal to end Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike

Israel, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority are each playing their cards to preserve the relative silence in Gaza and the West Bank.

The agreement that brought the Palestinian prisoners’ hunger strike to an end on Monday, alongside a decision to return 100 bodies of Palestinian terrorists buried in Israel, as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, were less about possible progress in peace attempts as much as they were about an Israeli effort to preserve the relative silence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinians celebrate the signing of a deal to end the Palestinian prisoners hunger strike

Palestinians wave flags as they celebrate the signing of a deal to end the Palestinian prisoners hunger strike, in the West Bank city of Ramallah - Photo by Reuters

 

Despite the fact that peace negotiations aren’t likely to restart, the Palestinian Authority, Hamas and Israel are all interested in getting rid of anything that could threat stability in the region. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News, Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| May 15, 2012
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Gaza Banks in Currency Crisis

Gaza banks are answering withdrawal requests with multiple currencies, leading to an exchange rate crisis for local residents.

Gaza banks are experiencing another currency crisis, protesters told the Belthlehem-based Maan News Agency on Thursday.

Palestinian Authority employees reportedly organized a sit-in in front of the Bank of Palestine in Nuseirat to protest the fact that their salaries were distributed in multiple currencies.

“We were surprised today that our salaries were in dollars, (Jordanian) dinars, and shekels which will result in penalties due to the exchange rate,” one employee said.

Hamas, like its Fatah rivals in Ramallah, has experienced numerous cash-flow problems since seizing the coastal enclave from the Palestinian Authority in a bloody 2007 putsch. Continue Reading »

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