Zvi Bar’el discusses the options available to Hamas in light of the assassination.
“Hamas is perceived by the Palestinians as a national organization that in the last year in particular contributed to their national cause against Israel. As such, it is not merely a religious supra-nationalist group that, like its parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, seeks to establish an Islamic state wherever possible, it is also committed to the territorial struggle in Palestinian areas. That territorial dependence has so far distinguished it from other supra-national groups like Al-Qaida factions and given it a status not unlike Hezbollah in Lebanon.”
Many right wing types, who have this simplistic and naive view of the world as being divided between good and evil, tend to lump all Islamic insurgency groups into one evil pot. Zvi Barel’s article reminds us, as that wise man, the late Speaker of the House of Representatives and Irish-American “Tip” O’Neil once said: “All politics is local.”
Since Hamas’ main support is firmly rooted inside Palestinian society in Gaza, it makes more sense that Hamas continue to focus on the local struggle. From its announcements today, Hamas seems to have backed off its earlier threats against the US. For the time being at least, it seems to be sticking to local roots.
