Hamas is Capable of Pragmatism.

[Nepalese in South Carolina protest against the King's direct rule. pix by Rubi Baral]


Hamas is Capable of Pragmatism.

By John Narayan Parajuli

The time for second-guessing and speculation is over. Hamas has been voted into office by a landslide victory. The international community should start negotiation with Hamas leadership without delay. Hamas is capable of pragmatism. It is time for international community to show some pragmatism on their part too.
The international community was surely unprepared to face the reality of Hamas’ electoral victory. In the aftermath, grappling with the truth has been the hardest. But everyone, including Israel, would be well advised to move on and go along with the bitter truth that has just dawned to the slumbering world community.
Hamas should be given a chance. Though, this has been a recurring theme, especially in the media emanating from the Middle East in the post election scenario, not everyone in the west seemed prepared for that. The western paranoia is understandable: Hamas has foresworn the destruction of the Israel and its record of terrorism is chilling: Since the outbreak of hostilities in September 2000, Hamas has carried out over 500 terrorist attacks, mostly suicide bombings, killing 390 people and injuring 2,100, mostly civilians. No wonder it is in the black list of most countries in the west. But its record within the Palestinian fraction has been solid, better than that of Fatah, the west’s fair-haired boy.

Hamas’ effective administration of cities on the West Bank—namely Qalqiya by rooting out corruption and reaching out to the people—has demonstrated that its leaders are far more pragmatic than they are thought to be. It also reveals that the movement has very well drawn a line between the rhetoric and reality. In cities, Hamas officials have to deal with Israel on a regular basis. Israel’s cooperation is very essential in running these cities. It seems to be working out fine.

Hamas’ sweeping victory shocked and surprised people who receive their news via daily headlines. But people who are familiar with the ground reality knew it was a forgone conclusion—provided a free and fair election took place. This election victory didn’t occur in vacuum. The reason for the groundswell of support for the Hamas is obvious:

Partly it was an anti-incumbency vote against Fatah whose officials are as corrupted as the southern sheriffs; partly it was Hamas’ record of being an competent party that connected well with people in the street. People who believe that Palestinians voted for the obliteration of the state of Israel, or that Hamas will necessarily work towards that cause are mistaken. Talking to some Palestinian students during a conference I attended in Washington DC last week, it was evident that not many believe that the destruction of Israel is a good thing. Israel’s military might is invincible. And Palestinians know that. But total surrender is not an option to any group of people resisting occupation.

Hamas’ radical rhetoric is a rallying cry that is justified to those caught in the vicious cycle of violence. But this is not to imply that there is a dearth of pragmatism. Like any other movement, Hamas has its own radicals and politicians willing to make a deal.
Many Palestinians in United States believe that Hamas will be more pragmatic once are they in charge. Objectively, rhetoric has to be toned down, once the reality of running a government, which demands a lot of diplomacy, dawns.
Hints of pragmatism teased out in the statements of Hamas leaders Ismail Haniya the possible future prime minister, has indicated a willingness to have a dialogue with Israel provided that “Israel first recognizes Palestinian rights”
It is obvious the new Palestinian government will no longer be the same. With Hamas entering the scene, it is likely that the superior position from which Israel dealt with the Palestinian authority may have to be changed for good. Hamas is loud and clear in its message: Treat us your equal partners in negotiations and we will ensure that we will keep our end of the bargain. The Hamas will be in a better position to keep their end of the bargain in terms of popular mandate they have earned. Hamas has been observing a unilateral truce with Israel for more than a year now.
Palestinian have seen hope in Hamas’ leadership but they fear that Fatah will try to undercut Hamas. More importantly, they fear that Israel and the United States will not provide Hamas a chance to prove its worth. Between its rhetoric and the ground reality, Hamas certainly seems capable of pragmatism.
Besides, maturity and pragmatism comes through experience. Before Yitzhak Rabin allowed the PLO to return from exile, Yasser Arafat had also vowed for the destruction of Israel. It all changed. The hope is that it will change this time too.
Too much pressure and non-cooperation with Hamas will only strengthen the radical camps within the movement. Palestinians feel that Hamas’ radical stance is all but natural to counter Israel. To many Palestinians the only weapon against Israel military might and its ever expanding military occupation is by striking back with whatever they have. Eventually the hope is that Israel will be forced make an equitable concession. What is terrorism to us is a freedom fight to them. We will never quite understand their response to Israeli occupation until we put ourselves in their shoes.