5/9/2017 Hamas' New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

Contact Us Franais Deutsch

Home > Blog > Hamas New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

Hot Topics

Hamas New Political Document: Its Implications and

Objectives
7
Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi
May
2017

http://jcpa.org/hamas-new-political-document-implications-objectives/ 1/5
5/9/2017 Hamas' New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

On May 1, 2017, Hamas leader Khaled Mashal presented Hamas much

anticipated political document, which does not abrogate the Hamas Charter
but outlines the strategies that the group has tailored to its current political
1
circumstances.

The main points of Hamas new political document are:

Full reliance on Islam as the groups sole source of authority for its strategies
and objectives.
Denial of the Jewish peoples right to self-determination in the Land of Israel,
while claiming that Israels establishment as a state is entirely illegitimate
and depicting Zionism as the enemy of humanity. Hamas claims it does not
wage a struggle against the Jews because they are Jewish but wages a
struggle against the Zionists who occupy Palestine.
Conferral of an Arab-Islamic and sacred Islamic character on all of
Palestine, entailing the complete denial of any bond or right of the Jewish
people or of Christianity to the land. [Hamas believes, based on the Koran
and Islamic sources, Jesus was neither a Jew nor a Christian but a prophet
of Islam who received the Islamic doctrine from Allah.]
Justication of the current nature of the struggle to liberate Palestine, that is,
the armed struggle, while granting legitimacy to the existence and activity of
the struggle organizations namely, the Palestinian terror organizations
and their activity.
Willingness for a Palestinian state to be established within temporary
borders (1967 lines) as a step toward continuing the armed struggle to
destroy Israel from the river to the sea.
Recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), while also
demanding new elections to its institutions and denying the validity of the
organizations political line and of the agreements it has signed with Israel.
Praise for the free people in the world who support the Palestinian struggle
against Israel.

http://jcpa.org/hamas-new-political-document-implications-objectives/ 2/5
5/9/2017 Hamas' New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

Ismail Haniya (left), newly elected head of Hamas political director, and Yahya Sinwar,
the military leader of Hamas al-Qassam Brigades. (AFP Photo / Mahmud Hams)

Whats behind Hamas Document Release?

An analysis of Hamas policy in recent years, together with the wording of the
new political document, indicates that the objectives of this document areto
demonstrate an ostensible political exibility and thereby create a dialogue
with the West, international institutions, and the United Nations, thus gaining
recognition for Hamas as a legitimate political actor while working to annul its
designation as a terror organization. Hamas senior ofcials are again trying to
foster the impression in the international community that time is working in the
Palestinians favor, and that alliance with Israel will not pay off in the long run.

Political deceit: Hamas does not recognize the authority of the United Nations,
its institutions, or its resolutions, including Resolution 181 on partitioning the
Land of Israel/Palestine. In recent years, however, the groups policy has
changed. It is now prepared to take part in the political game as long as it

http://jcpa.org/hamas-new-political-document-implications-objectives/ 3/5
5/9/2017 Hamas' New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

serves its objectives, does not contravene the basic Islamic tenets that guide it,
and brings the jihad closer to the goal of liberating Palestine and destroying
Israel.

Laying the groundwork to take over the PLO: At present, Hamas overriding aim
is to translate the political power it has accumulated via its control of the Gaza
Strip and the support it receives from Islamic states such as Iran to take over
the representative Palestinian institutions that are recognized by the
international community. Hence, Hamas is demanding to join the PLO. Although
portrayed to the outside world as a reconciliation process, it is actually an
effort to conquer this organization internationally recognized as the sole and
exclusive representative of the Palestinian people from within. If Hamas can
gain control of the PLO, it will secure the legitimacy it needs to rule all the
Palestinian territories. It believes it can then use the international community to
support its jihad struggle against Israel.

Challenging the Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian arena is in a zero-sum

struggle between the PA, which does not rule Gaza, and Hamas, which is openly
contesting the legitimacy of PA rule and working to oust it and take over the
PLO institutions. Hamas keeps striving to undermine the PAs control of the
West Bank. It does so by stepping up the intifada in its different forms, waging
a propaganda campaign to deny the PA governments legitimacy, and building
up the organizational infrastructure to take part in the succession battle after
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) leaves the scene.

For the time being, Hamas seeks to maintain the status quo in the conict with
Israel. At this stage, Hamas has no interest in initiating a round of military
conict with Israel in Gaza unless it believes it would further the goal of
toppling the PA and assuming control of the PAs West Bank institutions.

To subvert Israels power and its exercise of the right to self-defense, Hamas
will employ diplomatic, legal, and propaganda means, using diplomatic
pressures, resolutions of international institutions, sanctions, and rulings of
international courts. Hamas assigns a special importance to liberal
organizations and activists in the world who support the Palestinian struggle.

http://jcpa.org/hamas-new-political-document-implications-objectives/ 4/5
5/9/2017 Hamas' New Political Document: Its Implications and Objectives

***

Note
1 http://hamas.ps/en/post/678/a-document-of-general-principles-and-policies

Filed Under: Hamas,Israel,Palestinians

Tags: Gaza, Khaled Mashal

About Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi

Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi is a senior researcher of the Middle East and
radical Islam at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. He is a co-founder of
the Orient Research Group Ltd.
View all posts by Lt. Col. (ret.) Jonathan D. Halevi

2017 All rights reserved.

http://jcpa.org/hamas-new-political-document-implications-objectives/ 5/5