From: bc744@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Mark Ira Kaufman)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.mideast
Subject: Re: Hamas
Date: 16 Dec 1992 02:41:45 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.