The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012/2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

1

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Usamah Hamdan One of the top political leaders of the Islamic Resistance Movement “Hamas”. He is a member of the Arab National Congress, the Arab Islamic Conference and the Board of Trustees of Quds International Institute (QII) in Lebanon.

Hamdan was born in the Bureij refugee camp in the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian refugee family that fled the village of al-Batani al-Sharqi during the 1948 war. He attended high school in Kuwait, graduating in 1982. He then enrolled at the Yarmouk University in Irbid, Jordan where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry in 1986. While he was at the university, Hamdan became an activist with the Islamic Student Movement.

Hamdan became Hamas’ official representative in Iran in 1994, serving in that post until 1998 when he was appointed as Hamas representative in Lebanon. Later on he was appointed as the head of Hamas international relations, a post he still holds.

2

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Strategic Evaluation 2012 – Strategic Assessment 2013

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Usamah Hamdan

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

3

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Introduction The Palestinian issue has witnessed many events and developments in 2012.

These events have left clear signs whose results may continue well into 2013.

The most prominent of these events is the Zionist aggression on the Gaza strip, during which the resistance launched Operation “Stones of Shale” in response to the Zionist Operation “Pillar of Cloud”.

The second event is the decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations to accord Palestine non-member observer state status in the United Nations.

This event came at a time of increased settlement activities in the West Bank, while the Judaization of Jerusalem continued at an ever-quicker rate. Moreover, security coordination with the enemy is still a distinguishing characteristic in the performance of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Gaza is still under siege despite the easing of movement at border crossings especially at Rafah border crossing, while national reconciliation talks are not progressing despite the various opportunities and challenges.

At the regional level, the consequences of the Arab Spring are still shadowing the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people. The events in Syria in particular had the biggest impact on the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people.

The international community remained unable to provide any real support for the Palestinian people to reclaim their rights. In fact, the commitment of some of its members towards the Zionist entity remained as it is.

This study presents an attempt to review the most important events of 2012 and the expectations for the year 2013 without discussing detailed scenarios or conducting deep analysis.

4

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Palestinian Reconciliation: Despite the Palestinian factions signing the Cairo reconciliation agreement and the signing of Hamas and Fatah the Doha agreement to form a government (headed by Mahmoud Abbas), the reconciliation process did not achieve any serious breakthrough in 2012 that would result in ending the Palestinian division. As for the Palestinian solidarity that became apparent during the Zionist aggression on Gaza, it did not reach a level that would result in ending the status of division.

External interference especially American pressure remained the main factor obstructing the process of reconciliation, especially with the absence of any internal, objective and practical factors that hinder it. It can be said that the theoretical framework of the reconciliation process began to take shape last year, whereby several practical steps were taken.

However, no significant breakthrough was achieved especially in relation to the issue of forming a government (Technocrat Government) and the security issue in the West Bank, which is still controlled by the occupation.

However, 2013 may witness a significant breakthrough that can be achieved through the formation of a new Palestinian government and the preparation of a comprehensive Palestinian elections in which members of the Palestinian National Council are elected, which in turn will open the door for a wide national participation in building a Palestinian leadership.

This may mean that the role of the Palestinians living abroad (refugees and the diaspora) will take a greater importance in relation to the Palestinian issue. However, it is certain that reaching the goal of enabling the Palestinians living abroad to participate in the elections needs additional work and effort and it is expected that the developments taking place in the regional environment especially in Egypt will push matters related to the reconciliation process forward.

It is important to point out that the reconciliation process means firstly the rebuilding of national institutions and especially the Palestinian Liberation Organization based on national rights and fundamentals and the ability of the people to elect their representatives and leadership. Secondly, the rebuilding of the national project (project of liberation and return) that is centered on resistance as a strategy to achieve the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

5

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

It can be said that the commitment of all the Palestinian factions towards reconciliation, overcoming the American and Zionist pressure and thinking creatively when it comes to managing the confrontation with the enemy can make the year 2013 a year of national reconciliation and ending of the Palestinian division.

Aggression on Gaza: The Zionist aggression on Gaza in November of 2012 presented a distinguishing feature in the position of the occupation towards the Palestinian issue. The resistance was able to succeed through its endurance and exceptional performance in confronting the aggression. Moreover, the overwhelming popular support for the resistance was also a crucial factor in ending the aggression and failing its objectives. Furthermore, the public support in the West Bank (unlike the aggression of 2008-2009) formed a distinguishing feature that reaffirmed the existence of popular support for the resistance and it was a clear message to Tel Aviv that the security effort being exerted will not achieve security to the Zionist entity. In this manner, what the enemy thought would be a picnic and a clean operation ended with the failure of the Zionist deterrence formula. In fact, what the enemy considered as a safe haven is no longer one.

In addition to the above, the enemy was surprised by the ability of the resistance 窶電ue to the efforts of its political leadership- to build a regional safety network reflected by an Egyptian-Turkish-Qatari role that provided a political and humanitarian support, which enhanced the results of its endurance and its exceptional performance. Especially, after the enemy thought that the resistance in Palestine has become isolated in light of the regional developments. In this regard, the resistance succeeded in restoring the momentum for the Palestinian issue at the regional level, which in turn reaffirmed the inaccuracy of the opinion, which assumed that regional changes would lead the nations of the region and their new regimes to neglect the Palestinian issue.

However, this achievement has increased the level of challenge in confronting the occupation, and it is expected that the cease-fire will not end the possibility of a new aggression on the Gaza strip. In fact, it is very probable that the year of 2013 will witness a new aggression, unless the resistance succeeds in bringing new factors to the confrontation formula (militarily or politically) that will lead the occupation to rethink its plans before starting a new aggression.

6

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Palestine as a non-member observer state in the United Nations: Despite the American success in blocking Palestine from receiving full membership in the United Nations in 2011, the General Assembly voted in favor of according Palestine the status of a non-member observer state in the United Nations. There is no doubt that such a decision will open the door to official Palestinian representation in a number of international organizations, which is a development that can be positively utilized for the benefit of the Palestinian issue. On the other hand, according Palestine such status will result in many political and legal consequences especially towards issues of borders and refugees (in the context of defining the citizens of the country), international commitments (despite the status of conflict) and other issues. This requires a national agreement to deal with these consequences in a way that will enhance the rights of the Palestinians.

Jerusalem: During the year of 2012, the Zionist aggression on Jerusalem accelerated and it took many forms. For example, the number of soldiers and settlers who stormed Al-Aqsa mosque numbered nearly 11,000. Moreover, the enemy started promoting the idea of dividing the mosque. Furthermore, the construction of settlements in the city increased at an alarming rate, whereby the enemy announced the completion of 5496 new units and tenders were put out to build 2368 more units. Thus, the average number of units built in recent years reached 726 unit annually. Finally, the rate of forced eviction through the destruction of properties increased as well with the destruction of 26 homes.

It is expected that during the year 2013, the Israeli efforts aimed at dividing Al-Aqsa mosque and taking control of some of its parts will increase. Moreover, the number of transgressions on endowed properties and Christian churches will increase as well. This may lead to an outburst of public anger in the city. However, such an outburst may be delayed due to the lack of wide public support, which is a result of the security coordination with the enemy in the West Bank.

The issue of Jerusalem needs the adaptation of a clear strategy that focuses on supporting the survival of its original population, the defense of our sacred places and the enhancement of the role played by the Ummah in defending such sacred places.

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

7

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

The West Bank between the Hammer of Security and the Anvil of Annexation: In 2012, the occupation continued its settlement projects and the seizure of land in the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Land Research Center, the occupation annexed 28,000 thousand Acres during 2012, which is double what was confiscated in 2011. Moreover, 600 houses were demolished which represents an increase of 60% over the number of demolished houses in 2011. The number of trees, which were uprooted, burned, shattered, or drowned with wastewater, was 37,000 trees. Out of this number, 31,000 were olive trees, which is an increase of 85% as compared with the previous year of 2011. The occupation also demolished more than 60 wells used for collecting rainwater. According to the department of maps and information systems at the Arabic Studies Society this systematic destruction aims to seize 88% of the total area of the West Bank, and confine Palestinian population centers to an area of not more than 12% of the total area of the West Bank.

In parallel with the above, the number of security campaigns increased dramatically in the West Bank. Moreover, in the context of security coordination, a number of activists have been detained. However, there is a glimpse of hope that such an issue will be resolved in light of the reconciliation process and the victory of the resistance in Operation Stones of Shale and the public support it received from the entire Palestinian political spectrum in the West Bank.

It could be said that the year 2012 witnessed the beginnings of a public initiative to confront settlement activities and it is expected that such public initiative will develop and increase in light of the expected surge in Zionist settlement activities and the failure of any attempt to reach a political settlement. Thus, it has become necessary for such public initiative to be accompanied by an official Palestinian stand that does not stop at issuing statements and condemnations but adopts a viable approach based on serious work and practical programs to confront the policy of annexing Palestinian lands. Moreover, there is also a crucial need to end the issue of security coordination and relook into whether the Israeli security requests are met or rejected, since the continuation of such coordination will have negative consequences on the path of national reconciliation.

8

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

Gaza and the Siege: The siege on Gaza continued throughout 2012 and the efforts to end the siege continued as well along with the various activities conducted by the international solidarity movement.

The most important result of such efforts is the easing of the siege’s grip on Gaza, especially after the political and regional environment became more responsive to the idea of ending the siege. However, the real glimpse of hope to end the siege was manifested in the cease-fire agreement that was brokered after the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. This is because the agreement called for the facilitation of the movement of people and goods through the border crossings.

It is also important to note that the political efforts and official visits to Gaza have contributed greatly to the cause of ending the siege. In this regard, the visit of the Emir of the State of Qatar along with the political, economic and developmental support offered in the visit was an important precedent in the official relations of the region with the government of Ismail Haniyeh in Gaza. The visit opened the door to many visits such as the visit of the Egyptian prime minister and the Arab and Turkish foreign ministers and the prime minister of Malaysia.

It is expected that the year 2013 will witness the ending of the siege on Gaza due to the accumulating political efforts and due to the agreement to facilitate the movement of people and goods through border crossings. The siege will also end in the event of a national unity government being established in the context of the reconciliation process.

The Economic Crisis and its Social Effects: The year of 2012 witnessed the collapse of the illusion of prosperity, which was marketed within the framework of settlement. The inability of Fayyad’s government to pay the salaries of government workers and the many and repetitious union strikes are clear examples of such failure. However, the issue is of a deeper concern and has serious social consequences. This is because the employment of large number of people coupled with the bright promises of the Palestinian authority receiving financial support led to extensive borrowing from banks to guarantee the payment of salaries. Moreover, economic agreements with the enemy affected the Palestinian ability to compete which resulted in the closure The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

9

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

of more than 60% of the factories and economic establishments in the West Bank, which in turn resulted in an increase in the unemployment rate. As for Gaza, the continuation of the siege meant that the economic situation is still difficult and despite the success of the Haniyeh’s government in paying the salaries of its employees and its ability to finance its expenditures, such successes are not enough to achieve a complete economic cycle. In general, the percentage of poverty has increased in the Palestinian society and those who are under the poverty line constitute nearly two thirds of the population.

There are no serious initiatives to solve the economic crisis especially in light of the fact that the support received by the Palestinian authority in Ramallah is dependent upon the Israeli mood and the continuation of the siege on Gaza. Nevertheless, all the Palestinian parties are required to exert the necessary efforts so that 2013 can be a year of economic recovery and witness the commencement of a national economic program. Such a program would aim at supporting the endurance of the Palestinian people and building a resilient economy that is able to withstand challenges and reduce the reliance on donor countries whose support is contingent upon progress in the negotiations with the enemy.

The Prisoners: The resistance accomplished a great feat in 2012 in executing a prisoner swap deal, in which 1000 prisoners were released and all the female prisoners were released as well.

However, the issue of prisoners is not over yet. There are still 4750 prisoners including 198 child and 71 prisoners imprisoned since 20 years and 24 prisoners imprisoned since 25 years. Moreover, 2012 witnessed an increase in the number of those who are detained based on administrative detention, which has become a major policy of the enemy aimed at reducing the abilities of Palestinian activists. In fact, the occupation forces have even rearrested a number of the freed prisoners.

The year of 2012 witnessed an increase in the number of hunger strikes, which is part of the battle of empty stomachs as it is called by the prisoners. The aim behind such hunger strikes is to protest against the policies of the occupation and the suffering the detainees go through during their detention. This initiative led to an increase in the level of awareness regarding the issue of prisoners politically and publically.

The issue of prisoners will remain a national challenge in 2013 and there is a need to 10

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

develop a program to defend the rights of the prisoners and serious work need to be done in order to reach the objective of wining their release from the prisons of the occupation.

The Refugees: The issue of refugees remained a neglected issue since the signing of the Oslo accord and it has been shelved pending the outcome of the final settlement negotiations. However, this did not stop a number of Palestinian parties and organizations of civil society to shed light on the right of return and defend it.

In light of the internal developments taking place and in light of the effort being exerted to rebuild the Palestinian Liberation Organization, one of the priorities of the Palestinian factions and Palestinian leadership during 2013 will be to enhance the role of the Palestinians living abroad. This is so that they can reclaim their position in the context of national struggle.

The Resistance: The victory achieved in Operation Stones of Shale, which confronted the Zionist aggression of Pillar of Cloud in 2012, had a drastic effect in enhancing the support of the Palestinian people for the resistance and enhancing the confidence of the people in the option of resistance as a strategic option for liberation and return. The Tel Aviv operation that was executed during the course of the aggression presented an exceptional and important addition that reaffirmed the continuation of the resistance and its ability to overcome many of the obstacles and attain continuous development in confronting the enemy.

The year of 2012 also witnessed an agreement between the Palestinian factions to boost the role of popular resistance as another form of resistance. In this regard, the year of 2012 saw the use of creative methods in confronting the seizure of land in what is known as the experiment of Bab Al-Shams village, which was followed by other experiments.

It could be said that the many success of the resistance in its various forms may open the door in 2013 for a reformulation of a comprehensive resistance theory ending with the creation of a society of resistance, in which every action taken by its members is considered a form of resistance in confronting the occupation. In this regard, the chances for realizing

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

11

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

such a goal will be enhanced by the changes that are taking place in the region, which is witnessing the political rise of powers that support the resistance. However, the main challenge that stands in the way of achieving such a goal is the continuation of the Palestinian division and the illusion that emanates from the idea of settlement, which may be used to prevent such a goal from ever succeeding.

Settlement with the Occupation: Despite our unshaken belief that there is no political horizon for the issue of settlement with the enemy, the process of settlement itself has not only become a case of failure but it has become today a burden over the Palestinian people and the whole Ummah as well.

The year of 2012 with all of its details presented a big disappointment concerning the issue of settlement. The International Community and the International Quartet Committee have both left the Israelis to their own devices, whereby they were allowed to continue their aggression with all of its forms and without imposing any pressure on them.

A detailed reading of the international environment and the American position reaffirms the fact that the current environment has not matured yet and is not ready to impose any pressure on the Zionist entity to reclaim the rights of the Palestinians even up to the level demanded by the international community. As for the United States, it still maintains its unchanged strategies that call for ensuring the security and protecting the supremacy of Israel in the region. This commitment is still being upheld by the Obama administration and by the president himself, who after four years of insults directed at him from Israel decided to visit the country at the beginning of his second term.

As a result, the year of 2013 may witness various initiatives on the political sphere but such initiatives will not achieve any breakthrough and will not achieve any reasonable solution for the Palestinians.

Thus, the need to re-evaluate this path has become more urgent and therefore the year of 2013 may present an opportunity to re-examine the path of settlement and look into what was achieved by choosing such a path and the heavy losses that it brought upon the Palestinian issue. It is important to note that the intention behind the re-evaluation of this 12

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

path is not its use in the internal political conflict. On the contrary, the main reason for such re-evaluation is the rescue of the issue and its protection from any future losses and the readjustment of the path towards the real objective and by this; I mean the project of liberating Palestine.

Here we have to mention that the position of Hamas movement, which refuses to negotiate with the occupation and let alone recognize it, has proved its credibility as a political option after the long and unsuccessful experiment of those who are in support of the settlement.

The Arab Spring: The Arab Spring has left direct effects on the Palestinian issue and its events drew the attention of political observers. Moreover, its events at the local level affected the people of the region due to the changes that confronts them on a daily basis.

Despite the passing of more than two years since the beginning of the Arab Spring and the organization of elections, which were followed by formation of governments in many of these countries, it can be said that the region in general and these countries in particular are not stable yet and this in turn affects the Palestinian scene. This situation seems negative in the short run but it will leave positive and real effects on the Palestinian issue in the medium and strategic run whether at the official level in the countries of the Arab Spring or at the public level in the region.

The Israeli aggression on Gaza in 2012 presented an important test regarding the reaction of the region’s people towards the Palestinian issue and the overall reaction was positive, which reaffirmed the fact that the Palestinian issue is still the central issue of the Ummah.

However, the Palestinians in Syria are living a harsh reality due to the Syrian crisis and as a result; such reality is developing into a new calamity for the Palestinians living there.

Despite all the efforts aimed at shielding the Palestinian people from the crisis, the refugee camps were still subjugated to suffering and the number of Palestinian martyrs numbered 940. Moreover, 80% of the residence of Al-Yarmuk refugee camp (the largest Palestinian refugee camp) migrated from the camp because of military operations.

In light of the escalating Syrian crisis, it has become a necessity for the Palestinian factions to continue their efforts to neutralize the refugee camps and prevent the Palestinian

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

13

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

factions from embroiling themselves in the Syrian crisis. Moreover, efforts should be made to treat the Syrian Palestinian relationship in a manner that will strengthen the current beliefs of the Syrian people concerning the strategic importance of the Palestinian issue and the importance of the Syrian position, which is in support of the rights and the resistance of the Palestinian people.

Conclusion: Despite all the difficulties, problems and challenges that engulfed the Palestinian scene in 2012, the year of 2013 promises to be a year of many opportunities that may form in their entirety an opportunity to achieve a transformation in the path of struggle with the enemy.

Such transformation may eventually lead to the realization of a national Palestinian project of liberation and return. The main pillar in all of this is the realization of national unity and the rebuilding of Palestinian leadership institutions on a solid base of upholding rights and fundamentals and the continuation of resistance as a way of reclaiming rights.

14

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013

15

Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM)

This study..

This study presents an attempt to review the most important events of 2012 and the expectations for the year 2013 without discussing detailed scenarios or conducting deep analysis; as the Palestinian issue has witnessed many events and developments in 2012 that have left clear signs whose results may continue well into 2013 This study was presented by Usamah Hamdan in a conference held by Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies & Consultations on February 6th, 2013 with the participation of several elites and academics.

The study was first published in Arabic language by “Al-Zaytouna�, then translated into english language and published by the Palestinian Cultural Organization Malaysia (PCOM).

16

The View of Hamas Movement Concerning the Developments of Palestinian Issue 2012-2013