Paul Liptz's "In the Hamas Mind"

Paul Liptz is a friend and a great teacher. He teaches at both HUC and the World Union's Saltz Center. This Article was just sent to that center mailing list and beacuse they havent added it yet to their site resources. I thought it would be O.K to add the entire thing here. Don't forget to check their website for other great texts and events.



IN THE HAMAS MIND


Paul Liptz

Jan 4, 2009

As a child growing up in a liberal Jewish family in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), I was taught to be wary of expressing the view that any section of the population may indeed have specific group "traits". All human beings were just that- "human beings" and within each and every one of us is both good and bad. My university years reinforced the intellectual leftist approach which denied the concept of intractable conflicts and maintained that every harsh reality could be improved. However, with maturity and relentless reading by Middle Eastern writers and political documents by Hamas, Hezbollah and Al Qaeda, I have moved from my former idealistic position and accept that when Hamas states that it is committed to destroying us, we should take these claims seriously. I believe that one has to respect the enemy and to accept the honesty of their declared goals. The problem isn't about land or economic improvement or peace. Tragically it's just about the total rejection of the concept of a Jewish State.

I am convinced that Islamic fundamentalists (or to use a softer term) Islamists, really do look at the world differently from us. Thus, our survival, regardless of where we live on this planet, demands a close and honest look at their standpoint.

Let's try and enter the Hamas mind. Like Al Qaeda and Hezbollah, the starting off point is undoubtedly the Koran. This book, like the sources of other religions, can be read in numerous ways. In both the Old and New Testaments, one can easily evoke an awful thesis of superiority and lack of concern for the other. In the case of the Islamists, the other, be he/she an infidel, Christian or Jew, is a lowly person who is often despised and rejected. The world is sharply divided between dar-al-Islam (the abode of Islam) and dar al-harb (the abode of war) without anything in between. While the Koran has an abundance of impressive humanistic components, the Islamist admires the most derogatory.

For many Hamas members, Israelis and Jews are no different from infidels even though on paying a poll tax, they could claim the protected status of al-dhimma. However, this "protected" concept is only in relation to an individual and Islam rejects the concept of a sovereign dhimmi state. Thus the Christian, Jewish or modernizing Muslim state has to be destroyed by jihad as a duty by the community as a whole. This form of self-sacrifice enables a person killed in war to become a shahid, a martyr with the benefits of a Paradise with 72 black-eyes beautiful virgins who will become the martyr's brides together with an abundance of food and drink. In addition the martyr will ensure an easy entrance to heaven for 70 family members. [M.Milson, Memri, December, 2007]

The 6000 rockets on Israeli civilian targets during the last 8 years are integral to their religious perspectives. It is not just about attacking a sovereign state. Thus Hamas is no different from Al Qaeda which rejects any state on earth which does not abide to its particular interpretation of traditional Islam.

Hamas has three interpretations of how it should deal with Israel. There is the:-

- Hudna: a truce, which implies recognition of the other party's actual existence, without acknowledging its legitimacy.

- Tahidya: a period of calm or limited cease fire

- or the most favored, conflict. [J. Halevi, Jerusalem Issue Brief, June 2008]

This is the reason why vast sections of the Muslim Arab world so vehemently opposed Egypt's peace treaty with Israel and totally boycotted an Arab country. Anwar Sadat was assassinated because he had broken an essential tenet of Islam. The Moslem Brotherhood in Egypt still rejects the Israeli-Egyptian agreement.

Added to these religious interpretations, it is vital to appreciate that Hamas also has a modern interpretation of Israel, in much the same way as Al Qaeda sees the United States and the western world.

How could it possibly be that this minute Jewish group (0.2% of the world) could ever have its own state? The day to day functioning of the State of Israel has undoubtedly been a remarkably successful venture and this has only added to their sense of humiliation. Israel has given a good life to most of its citizens, works hard on the issue of democracy, has an open press and even permits demonstrators to wave Hamas flags during the war.

From the Hamas perspective, there is one additional point which adds to their infuriation. Several Arab countries actually understand why Israel doesn't intend to commit national self-suicide and, in their heart of hearts, want Israel to win this latest conflict. Their well being depends on radical Islamic states and organizations being defeated.

Tragically many Hamas members live with serious delusions. They actually believe that Israel doesn't have the stamina to carry out an intense military response nor its ability to withstand global criticism. They seem to think that Israel's vibrant, argumentative political life is a weakness, whereas in reality, it's a strength. Too many of the Gaza leaders forget that the hard earned building of this Jewish desert land and the accomplishment of a stable, middle class society have not weakened us, but rather the opposite.


There is clearly still a long way to go before Hamas-type people and their supporters recognize the need for a dramatic change in their attitudes. The Middle East overflows with unfulfilled dreams. This area of some 350 million people, with its natural resources and capable citizens, should have done much better.


Perhaps, some day in the distant future, Hamas will appreciate that the ongoing attempts to defeat Israel and blame the western world for its multiple failures, has seriously harmed them. However, until then, all defenders of freedom have to support Israel's right to exist.


All in all, my hopes are fairly simple. I want to spend time with my family, enjoy my work, live a healthy life and try to understand the world around me without becoming cynical. In addition, I'll continue to dream of the day when my Palestinian neighbors less than a mile away from our house will also be doing similar things.


Paul Liptz (Pbliptz@netvision.net.il) was on the faculty of Tel Aviv University for 35 years. He is now on the staff of the Anita Saltz International Education Center and the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem.