Saturday, July 1, 2006
Absolutely must-read interview with Hamas second in command, Mousa Mohammed Abu Marzook, in Der Spiegel: "No Matter What, the Violence Will Never Stop" [via LGF] Excerpts:
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Israel has accused the political office of Hamas of organizing the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Was this kidnapping ordered by Damascus?
Abu Marzook: No, that is not true. Israel has often falsely accused us in similar instances. It is not our task to make such decisions: They are made by the military wing. The military and political wings work independently of each other.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: That means that the political leaders are not consulted prior to an action?
Abu Marzook: We are no experts here on military issues. We never know in advance about military actions, when or how they take place.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: That would indicate that there is no coordination between the wings of Hamas.
Abu Marzook: But of course there is, because our actions relate to the same strategy, under which everything is organized. And that strategy is to resist the occupation of Palestine. A part of Hamas pursues this goal politically, and another pursues it militarily.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Now, Hamas has approved the so-called "Prisoners' Paper," which recommends a two-state solution. Does that mean that Hamas is now prepared to recognize the state of Israel?
Abu Marzook: With this agreement, we have primarily agreed to strengthen the resistance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Aside from that, we have agreed on the goal of establishing a Palestinian state in these areas.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Doesn't that mean that Hamas inevitably accepts the Israeli state in the rest of that area?
Abu Marzook: The paper does not say that at all. It is purely about the future of our people and about how a government uniting all Palestinian factions can work on building their independent state.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: And does Hamas also believe that an Israeli state can exist alongside a Palestinian state?
Abu Marzook: Hamas has always said clearly: We will never accept the occupation, because it is not legal, not correct and not just...
...SPIEGEL ONLINE: It is hard to imagine that approach would ever bring an end to reciprocal violence.
Abu Marzook: No matter what, the violence will not stop. We are on the weaker side and we do whatever we can. The Palestinians have no other choice.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: The Palestinian head of government Ismail Haniyeh, also from Hamas, recently showed himself to be more diplomatic than the political leadership in Damascus. That suggests a certain lack of unity in Hamas.
Abu Marzook: No, there is no split, just various approaches. The government, the military wing and the political office all follow the same strategy, but each one works in a manner appropriate to his tasks...
Of course, I don't know why I'm telling you all this, but on the off chance someone who doesn't already understand the above should stop by...
Oh, and remember, when Hamas says they want a Palestinian State: it doesn't mean they accept another state on the rest of the land west of the Jordan, and when they say they have a right to fight "the occupation," it's all the occupation.
