GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Hamas government in the Gaza Strip has banned residents of the coastal enclave from participating in the national reality singing show "New Star."....
....Hasan Abu Hashish, who heads the media office in the Hamas-run government, told Ma'an's public relations director Ala al-Abed that the program was "indecent."
The contest contradicts the customs and traditions of the Gaza community, Abu Hashish said, adding that singing was the passion of a few and not in the interests of the majority of the community.
The contest contradicts the customs and traditions of the Gaza community, Abu Hashish said, adding that singing was the passion of a few and not in the interests of the majority of the community.
Interestingly the talkbacks in the Maan piece seem to be providing an interesting arguments between some Palestinians and other Islamic partisans from other parts of the world. Usually I don't deal or care about talkbacks but these have a slightly different tone. What I notice is that the secular Palestinians are calling for a State for Palestinians and are seeing this purely on a national level. At the same time those from outside of Palestine AND religious supporters of Hamas are seeing this in global terms. Read through the talkbacks, they are interesting for the most part.
However, with all of this, Hamas represents a far greater % of the Palestinian Polity than does the PFLP activist posting in the talkbalks in favor of a more Western Style of Government.
Correspondingly, though Hamas is getting a lot of press a Norwegian think tank study over six years finds that Ismail Haniyeh's overall standing with Palestinian Polity is far lower than that of P.A. President Mahmoud Abbas. Interestingly, according to the survey only 25% of Palestinians feel that either Governmental organization (The Palestinian Authority or Hamas) satisfactory in advancing democracy and only 30% feel either is satisfactorally promoting Human Rights. YET... these are the bodies that are advancing the cause of Statehood and a One State solution (though the PA in theory supports a "Two State Solution).
In the meanwhile, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been conducting talks to "unify the Palestinian Resistance". It is important to remember that both Hamas and P.I.J. have agreed to join the PLO and as a result this deal will have direct implications on any potential Peace Talks or negotiations with Israel towards ending the Occupation (which honestly Israel does not seem to be in a hurry to do) AND establishing a modern, democratic Palestinian State.
GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The leader of Gaza's government Ismail Haniyeh on Tuesday called for an in-depth dialogue between his Hamas party and Islamic Jihad, an official said.
Muhammad al-Hindi, an Islamic Jihad leader, said the two sides hoped to unify the Palestinian resistance forces. He said this was an Islamic and national duty.
He said bringing the two sides into closer cooperation was important due to the uprisings across the Arab world, which the factions hope to give a more "Islamic dimension."
Al-Hindi praised Haniyeh's call and said talks were already underway at home and abroad.
Muhammad al-Hindi, an Islamic Jihad leader, said the two sides hoped to unify the Palestinian resistance forces. He said this was an Islamic and national duty.
He said bringing the two sides into closer cooperation was important due to the uprisings across the Arab world, which the factions hope to give a more "Islamic dimension."
Al-Hindi praised Haniyeh's call and said talks were already underway at home and abroad.
For proponents of a peaceful solution whether it be a One State solution or a "faux" Two State solution (Israel exists but all the Palestinian refugees and their descendents from the 1948 War of Independence get to move back to Israel - thus causing a demographic shift in favor of Palestinians and in effect creating Palestine and Palestine), this combination CANNOT be heartening. Islamic Jihad has rejected non-violence as a part of "resistance" as has Hamas.
How the PLO will reconcile this with their plans for unity is unknown and an Israeli reaction to unity with Hamas and P.I.J. joining the process (a process they both oppose) is sure to be both strong and in the opposite direction of those who think that this unification will serve the purpose of creating either Two States or Peace.
Please discuss.
We know who the losers in all this are going to be: Ordinary people on both sides who just want to live without fear of dying when they go out onto the street and who want to make a better life for themselves and their children.
ReplyDeleteIsrael has every right, as a sovereign, to respond appropriate to these actions, particularly when this new terrorist coalition begins its attacks on Israel and Israeli civilians. Once these groups officially join the PLO, it is the PLO that will be responsible, and should be held responsible.
These people and their actions should be called what they, and it, are. They are not militants and they do not engage in resistance. They are terrorists and murders who engage in premeditated murderous terrorism against innocent and unarmed civilians..
Finally, if they didn't hate each other so much, it would be interesting to see how a Hamas-Zealot alliance to combat the "evils" of secularism would turn out.
Heh.... on your last point Reuven, they are a perfect alliance for each other except that they totally want to annhilate each other. Other than that - they are both a group of Asshats.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 200000% regarding the "Ordinary people on both sides". They will both suffer because of this conjoining of militants. What is more sad is that on the Palestinian side there is really nothing most people can do to overcome their rulers. The Norwegian study is fascinating. For me it re-affirms what I felt when I lived in Israel. That most people want democracy and to be left alone.
At least on the Israeli side they can choose to change leaders however, as long as the Palestinian leadership insists on not allowing Israel to live in Peace, the nationalist leaders will continue gain power and use this issue to justify all kinds of misbehavior.
FAFO is not the Government of Norway, but a think tank.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected. I thought it was a study conducted on behalf of the Norwegian Government. Post corrected to reflect that info. Thank You
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