From: bc744@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Mark Ira Kaufman)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject: FACTS ON HAMAS
Date: 16 Dec 1992 12:18:44 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


				     HAMAS

 Background

 HAMAS,  a branch of the Muslim Brotherhood,  evolved in the territories
 during the  years 1967-77, inspired by the Brotherhood founded in Egypt
 in the 1920's.
    
 In  1978, it  was  registered  by Sheikh  Ahmad Yasin  as a  non-profit
 organization under  the name of "al-Mujama".  In the first years of its
 existence,  the organization  concentrated on winning over people to be
 observant  Muslims,  and  gained  influence  and  power  in educational
 institutions, universities and mosques.

 The organization  was founded  in its  present militant  form after the
 outbreak  of  the  intifada.  The  outbreak  of  the  intifada  and the
 establishment  of  "Islamic  Jihad" - a  rival  organization  which had
 broken away  from the Muslim Brotherhood and advocated violent struggle
 - spurred HAMAS,  an acronym for the "Islamic Resistance Movement",  to
 begin militant activity.

 Under the banner of Islam,  the movement began to direct its activities
 not only  against the Israeli authorities in the territories,  but also
 against supporters of Fatah, the mainstream organization of the PLO.


 Ideology

 The ideology  of HAMAS combines religious principles and pan-Arab ideas
 with  Palestinian  national  aspirations.  HAMAS  sees  Palestine  as a
 religious trust  (waqf) which should  remain under  Muslim control  for
 eternity.  In the organization's "covenant",  published in August 1988,
 HAMAS wrote that "the liberation of Palestine in its entirety, from the
 [Mediterranean] Sea  to  the  [Jordan] River,  is  the  most  lofty  of
 strategic goals." As  part of  this policy,  HAMAS  opposes the idea of
 self-government  for  the Palestinians,  as  well as  the entire  peace
 process.


 Finances

 In order  to finance  its social and military activities,  HAMAS raises
 funds from  several sources:  donations and membership fees,  which are
 collected from  members and supporters in the territories,  fundraising
 meetings among  its Muslim  and Arab  supporters both in the Arab world
 and  in  the  West,  and  direct financial  aid from  Arab and  Islamic
 countries, such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf states.


 Operations

 Motivated by the HAMAS' radical and militant ideology,  every member of
 the organization  feels a personal duty to engage in the armed struggle
 against  Israel.  Leaflet  No.  65 of  HAMAS  which was  distributed in
 October 1990 called  for the  murder of  Jews and  the burning of their
 property:  "Every Jew  is a  settler and  it is  our obligation to kill
 him."
 
 HAMAS' major  operations  have  included  gunfire  attacks  on  Israeli
 civilian and  military targets,  bombs  directed at security forces and
 IDF  installations  in  the  territories,  firebombs thrown  at Israeli
 civilian and military vehicles,  the murder of suspected collaborators,
 and the concealment of arms in mosques and the homes of activists.


 List of Selected HAMAS Operations
 
 February 1989 - Kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Avi Sasportas.

 May 1989 -      Kidnapping and murder of IDF soldier Ilan Sa'adon.

 December 1990 - Murder of three workers at an aluminum factory in Jaffa
		 (one of the murderers was apprehended and confessed).

 March 1991 -    A three-man  terrorist gang,  in  whose possession  was
		 found a  picture of  Yasin,  landed in  Eilat with  the
		 intention of carrying out a mass attack.


 Most Recent HAMAS Attacks

 October 21, 1992 - Shots were fired at a military vehicle in Heborn. As
 a result of the attack, an officer and a soldier were injured. The 'Izz
 al-Din al-Qassam squad,  identified with HAMAS,  claimed responsibility
 for this attack.

 October 25, 1992 - Shots  were fired  at an  IDF aobservation post near
 the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Reserve soldier Shmuel Geresh was
 killed  and  another  soldier  was slightly  wounded.  The 'Izz  al-Din
 al-Qassam squad claimed responsibility for this attack as well.

 November 21, 1992 - A HAMAS car-bomb set to go off in a crowded site in
 Or Yehuda was averted.

 December 7, 1992 - Shots  were fired from a  moving  vehicle  at an IDF       
 jeep 300 meters  from the  Saja'iyya-Nahal Oz  junction.  Three reserve
 soldiers  were   killed.   The  'Izz  al-Din  al-Qassam  squad  claimed
 responsibility for the attack.

 December 12, 1992 - Shots  were fired  from a  moving vehicle at an IDF
 jeep near the southern approaches to Hebron. The driver of the jeep was
 killed and  two other  soldiers in the car were injured.  HAMAS claimed
 responsibility for the operation.




Xref: sparky talk.politics.mideast:23651 soc.culture.arabic:5733