Today, in the political reality of many countries, tribalist and nationalist or globalist forces clash fiercely, destroying the chances of peace and democracy. This is particularly topical in the Middle East, where efforts by the established leadership to prevent armed conflict have reached a new phase, in which both Hezbollah and Hamas, the organization labeled as ‘terrorist’ by the US, nudge into thinking about participation in mainstream politics.
Terrorism and the media
The number of countries in the world today that are in some form of transition is higher than in some ten years ago, and in some cases more efforts are being made to resolve situations that threaten stability. And the moves of all parties involved are not without major league risks.
By finally tackling security concerns with a clean sweep, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas is slowly shifting into gear, starting a clamp on the long-summoned Palestinian uprising. he has even told Hamas fighters publicly to give up their arms. This is a first for a president who until now has been nothing but clear about security issues. Hamas leaders according to a report in London’s Asharq Al Awsat paper are reportedly planning to return to Gaza after Israel withdraws.
Prisons and Terrorism
The newspaper report detailed that the leaders are likely to move their group’s political bureau to Gaza as soon as Israel transfers control of the border crossing to the Palestinian Authority. “When a militia turns into a political party, I believe the issue of the need for weapons becomes irrelevant,” Abbas said as quoted by Reuters. “There will only be one authority, one law and one [armed forces] law,” according to the newly elected Palestinian leader, who played the risk of being involved in the operation, saying this had happened many times before in history.
But Hamas leaders think it is necessary to reiterate that they have no intention of completely disarming. “Our fingers will remain on the rifle trigger until the abolition of the occupation,” Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said, according to the Israeli Al Haaretz paper. Although Hamas has participated in the recent elections, Masri doubts that this means the members will actually function that way.
It is commentary like this that deeply worries the international community. US President George W. Bush has been said to be waiting by inviting Palestinian leader Abbas until he has anything substance to report. Maybe the invitation will finally be extended soon now. The Palestinian leader has installed a hardliner as the new intelligence chief. Tareq Abu Rajab, once deputy intelligence chief, is known to have played a key role in the crackdown on the militant group Hamas.
Hamas, which has participated in municipal elections already, may see July municipal elections in its favor. “Extrapolating from the present point in time, Hamas I believe will gain between 30 and 50 percent in the election to the Palestinian Legislative Council in July. Fateh is a complete mess and is looking for his lost identity”, said Matti Steinberg, former Israeli security adviser to two. head of Israel’s Public Security Service. “Hamas could register a sizeable advantage in the elections and may demand to play a role in the next Palestinian Authority government”, said Yossi Alpher, former senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. The advantage that the ‘party to be’ will likely win is largely due to the unhappiness of the Palestinian population with the Fateh party, which has lost its identity more or less because of PA dysfunction.
This was echoed by Ghassan Khattib, the Palestinian Authority’s planning minister. “It is possible that Hamas, which has so far maintained a fundamentalist and extreme ideological position, will become a pragmatic movement if it has the opportunity to become part of official, local, regional and international politics. Hamas rhetoric now reminds much of Fateh’s rhetoric when treated by” legitimate forces “. as an “illegal terrorist group”. Fateh managed to make a trade-off. It was recognized and included in the system as a reward for playing politics within the parameters of international legality “, he said.