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Democrats & Biden Must Remember Hamas’s evolution during the Oslo Peace Process!

1. The Oslo Accord: A Ray of Hope:
   • Picture it: September 13, 1993. The White House. Handshakes, smiles, and a historic moment. The Oslo Accord is signed. Israelis and Palestinians agree to recognize each other’s right to exist. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, let’s put down our swords and pick up some olive branches.” 🌿
   • Israel begins withdrawing from occupied lands, and Jericho and Gaza get handed over to the Palestinians. Yasser Arafat, who’d been Israel’s implacable enemy for three decades, returns from exile to establish the Palestinian Authority. The stage is set. 🌟
2. Hamas in the Post-Oslo World:
   • But wait, the plot thickens. In the post-Oslo era, things get complicated. The Camp David summit in 2000? A flop. The second intifada? A fiery encore. And guess who’s lurking in the shadows, gaining power and influence? Yep, our main character: Hamas.
   • As Israel clamps down on the Palestinian Authority (which it accuses of sponsoring deadly attacks), Hamas steps into the spotlight. It’s like they’re the understudy who suddenly gets promoted to lead role. 🎭
3. From Muslim Brotherhood to Palestinian Nationalists
   

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   • Let’s rewind to Hamas’s origins. They started as the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestinian branch—a fiery bunch with a dash of Islamic fervor. But over time, they morphed. Think of it as a superhero origin story: From their humble beginnings, they emerged as a new Palestinian nationalist movement with an Islamic hue.
   • Their views? Well, they’ve been as mercurial as a chameleon at a color-changing convention. Rejecting the Palestinian Authority’s foundational principles? Check. Running in the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections? Double-check. Participating in the PA? Indications point that way. It’s like they’re doing the cha-cha with their ideology. 💃🕊️
4. The Peace Process Stumbles, Hamas Stays Relevant:
   • Oslo’s promises? Some fulfilled, others left hanging like laundry on a cloudy day. Meanwhile, Hamas maintained its popular support as the main opposition to Oslo. They were the ones saying, “Hey, peace process, we’re watching you.”
   • And when the peace process hit roadblocks, Hamas didn’t fade into the background. Nope. They deployed suicide bombers against Israeli targets. The second Intifada erupted, and Ariel Sharon’s Temple Mount visit added fuel to the fire. It’s like they were playing chess while everyone else was stuck in a game of Monopoly. ♟️🔥
5. The Drama Continues
   

   :

   • So there you have it: Hamas’s evolution during the Oslo Peace Process. It’s a saga of twists, turns, and occasional pirouettes. Will they ever pirouette into a peaceful resolution? Well, the curtain hasn’t fallen yet.

origins and rise of this intriguing player in Palestinian politics! 🌟

1. The Birth of Hamas:
   • Picture the late 1980s: The First Palestinian Intifada (intifada means “uprising”) erupts like fireworks on New Year’s Eve. It’s a turning point, and out of the chaos emerges Hamas—an Islamic Palestinian national movement.
   • But wait, rewind a bit. Before Hamas, there was Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, a Palestinian cleric who’d been doing the whole “Muslim Brotherhood” thing. He’d dedicated his early life to Islamic scholarship in Cairo, but then he decided to roll up his sleeves and get active. 🕌
   • Yassin founded Hamas (which stands for Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiya, or “Islamic Resistance Movement”) in Gaza in December 1987. Why? Well, the first intifada was in full swing—a Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation. And Hamas wanted a seat at the resistance table. 🤝
2. Defiance and Jihad:
   • Imagine a chessboard. On one side, you’ve got the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization), led by Yasser Arafat, making moves. But Hamas? They’re not playing by the same rules. They reject what they see as the PLO’s defeatist concessions.
   • So, what’s their strategy? Jihad. Not the “let’s meditate and find inner peace” kind, but the “let’s resist with all our might” kind. Hamas codified its formal charter, and the goal was clear: liberate historic Palestine. 🗡️🇵🇸
3. The Charter and Its Controversies:
   • In 1988, Hamas dropped its manifesto like a mixtape. What did it say? Brace yourself: “We’re here to destroy Israel and create an Islamic society in historic Palestine.” 📜🔥
   • But hold your horses! In 2017, they tried a rebrand. Picture a makeover montage: Hamas presented a new document that accepted an interim Palestinian state along the pre-1967 “Green Line” border. Still, they side-eyed Israel like it owed them money. Recognition? Nah, not on the menu. 🌿
4. Enter Suicide Bombings:
   • April 1993: The Oslo Accords are freshly baked. They’re like the “Let’s Be Friends” treaty between the PLO and Israel. But guess what? Hamas isn’t RSVPing to that party.
   • Instead, they drop a bombshell—literally. Suicide bombings become their signature move. It’s like they’re saying, “Hey, Oslo, we’ve got our own playlist.” 🎶💣
5. The Dance of Power and Hostility:
   • Since then, Hamas has been the wild card in Palestinian politics. They’re the kid who shows up to the family reunion with fireworks and a megaphone.
   • Their unwavering hostility toward Israel? Check. Their governance of Gaza (where they’ve got more than two million Palestinians)? Double-check. And yes, dozens of countries have labeled them “terrorists.”
6. The Drama Continues:
   • So, there you have it—the rise of Hamas. It’s like a blockbuster movie with plot twists, explosions, and a soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. And the sequel? Well, it’s still being written
7. 1pbs.org2bbc.com3jstor.org4britannica.com5wilsoncenter.org

Palestinian perspectives on Hamas—a mosaic woven with threads of history, frustration, and complex emotions.

1. The Frustration Factor:
   • Picture this: Gaza, where the sun kisses the Mediterranean waves, and the air carries echoes of resilience. But beneath that surface lies a simmering frustration. You see, many ordinary Palestinians—those navigating life’s labyrinth in Gaza and the West Bank—aren’t exactly waving “Team Hamas” foam fingers.
   • Why? Well, it’s like being stuck in a traffic jam during rush hour: You’re late, you’re annoyed, and you’re wondering why the road isn’t smoother. Similarly, Gazans have faced extreme economic hardship, and they’re not exactly sending fan mail to Hamas HQ. 🚗🤷‍♂️
2. Hamas: The Complicated Relationship
   

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   • Hamas—the enigma wrapped in a keffiyeh. On one hand, it’s the armed group that emerged from the fiery womb of the Muslim Brotherhood. Their mission? To resist Israeli occupation and liberate Palestine. 🇵🇸💥
   • But—and here’s the twist—many Palestinians don’t fully align with Hamas’s ideology. Unlike a stubborn toddler refusing to share toys, most survey respondents favored a two-state solution. They dream of an independent Palestine coexisting with Israel. 🤝🌍
   • So, internally, it’s like a family dinner where Uncle Hamas insists on playing the accordion while everyone else just wants to pass the hummus.
3. The Atrocities Conundrum:
   • Now, let’s talk about those videos—the ones showing atrocities. Professor Khalil Shikaki, the poll overseer, says, “Hey, most Palestinians haven’t seen ’em.” It’s like a cosmic game of hide-and-seek: atrocities hiding, Gazans seeking normalcy. 🙈
   • But wait, there’s more: Hamas’s strict control methods. Think authoritarian rule, gender segregation, and media censorship. It’s like they’re running a tight ship, but the passengers are grumbling about the lack of Wi-Fi. 📡👮‍♂️
4. The Heartstrings Tugged by Conflict:
   • Recent events have tugged at Palestinian heartstrings. In the aftermath of conflict, a poll revealed that 53 percent think Hamas deserves the “Representing and Leading Palestinians” award. Meanwhile, Abbas’s Fatah party is sitting there like the runner-up at a talent show. 🏆🎭
   • Maybe it’s the adrenaline of resistance, the adrenaline of survival. Or maybe it’s just that Hamas knows how to throw a good protest—like a DJ dropping beats at a rooftop party. 🎶🔥
5. The Long Game:
   • Here’s the kicker: Continued violence won’t magically summon peace. It’s not like shaking a snow globe and expecting world leaders to suddenly break into a harmonious dance. Nope.
   • If history’s any guide, Israeli crackdowns that make life tougher for ordinary Gazans. They’ve actually boosted support for Hamas. It’s like saying, “Hey, let’s make this maze even twistier!”
6. 1foreignaffairs.com2nbcnews.com3bbc.com4theconversation.com

Democrats Biden to Unravel the threads that connect Palestine and Terrorist Hamas

1. Hamas: The Enigma Wrapped in a Keffiyeh:

   • Picture this: Gaza, 1987. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, an imam, and his trusty sidekick Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi decide to create a political party. They call it Hamas. Not exactly a catchy name, but hey, it’s not a boy band; it’s a movement.
   • At its core, Hamas emerges as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Their mission? To engage in armed resistance against Israel and liberate historic Palestine. Cue dramatic music and a flag waving in slow motion. 🇵🇸💥
   • But—and this is a big but—Hamas’s founding charter also includes a line about wanting to turn Israel into a historical footnote. Yep, they’re not exactly sending “Let’s Be Friends” cards to Tel Aviv. 📜🔥

2. Hamas vs. Fatah: The Sibling Rivalry:

   • Imagine two siblings fighting over the TV remote, but instead of “Friends” vs. “Game of Thrones,” it’s Fatah vs. Hamas. These are the heavyweight champs of Palestinian politics.
   • Fatah: The older sibling. They’ve been around since the first intifada (that’s the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation). They’ve got suits, ties, and a taste for diplomacy. Their goal? A Palestinian state within the 1967 borders (that’s pre-occupied territory).
   • Hamas: The younger, scrappier sibling. They’ve got a military wing called the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades. Their goal? Well, they used to want all of Mandatory Palestine (that’s the whole enchilada, including Israel). But lately, they’ve been eyeing the 1967 borders too. Compromise, anyone? 🤝

3. Gaza and the Hamas Takeover:

   • Fast-forward to 2005. Ariel Sharon, the then-Israeli prime minister, decides to pack up and leave Gaza. Troops out, settlers out. It’s like a cosmic game of musical chairs, but with land.
   • And guess who waltzes in? Hamas. They win the Gaza Strip lottery (not the fun kind with cash prizes). Suddenly, they’re in charge—like the cool kid who throws the best beach parties. 🏖️
   • They even provide social services: healthcare, welfare—you name it. It’s like they’re running a community center with a side of resistance. But their legitimacy? Well, that’s a seesaw. Up after elections, down after disagreements. 📊

4. The Rocky Relationship:

   • So, are Palestine and Hamas inseparable? Not exactly. Think of them as that couple on-again, off-again. Sometimes they’re holding hands, other times they’re throwing shade.
   • While Hamas has its loyal supporters (and some not-so-loyal ones), its founding charter’s “Israel demolition clause” has raised eyebrows. It’s like saying, “I want to date you, but also, I want your house to vanish.” 🏠🔍
   • But hey, in 2017, Hamas released a new charter. They softened their stance, like a cat deciding belly rubs aren’t so bad after all. Now they’re cool with a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders—no more house demolition fantasies.

Picture this: A land steeped in ancient history, where olive trees whisper secrets to the wind, and the sun kisses the earth with both warmth and longing. That’s Palestine—a place that has seen more drama than a Shakespearean tragedy.

1. The Arab Revolt (1936-1939):

   • Back in the late 1930s, tensions were simmering like a pot of tea left on the stove for too long. The British Mandate was in full swing, and Jewish immigration to Palestine was raising eyebrows (and blood pressure) among the Arab population.
   • The newly formed Arab National Committee decided to throw a party—a general strike, to be precise. They boycotted Jewish products, withheld tax payments, and basically said, “Hey, British colonialism and this whole Jewish influx? Not cool, fam.” 🚫

2. The Unlawful Killings and Repression:

   • Fast-forward to more recent times. The past few decades have been a rollercoaster of violence, hope, and heartache. Human Rights Watch, that diligent observer, tells us that civilians have been caught in the crossfire like unsuspecting bystanders at a fireworks show.
   • Israeli troops and Palestinian armed groups have danced a deadly tango. Over 2,000 Palestinian civilians lost their lives in the last three Gaza conflicts alone. Some of these attacks—let’s call them what they are—violated international humanitarian law. War crimes, anyone? 😔
   • Meanwhile, in the West Bank, Israeli security forces have been a bit trigger-happy. Live ammunition, excessive force—you name it. Demonstrators, rock-throwers, and even suspected assailants have felt the sting. And it’s not a bee sting; it’s more like a “you’ve-been-hit-by-a-truck” kind of sting. Ouch.

3. The Occupation: 50 Shades of Repression:

   • For half a century, Israel has been doing its best impression of a stern librarian, shushing Palestinians left and right. Unlawful killings, forced displacement, abusive detention—check, check, and check.
   • Oh, and let’s not forget the Gaza Strip, where movement is restricted like a cat in a cardboard box. And those settlements? They’ve sprouted like mushrooms after a rainstorm, accompanied by discriminatory policies that make life harder for Palestinians. 🍄

4. The Drama Continues:

   • But wait, there’s more! The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a marathon, not a sprint. Seven decades of war, uprisings, and fleeting moments of hope. It’s like a soap opera with geopolitical twists.
   • And guess what? The script isn’t finished. The stage is still set, the actors are waiting in the wings, and the audience—well, we’re all holding our breath, hoping for an unexpected plot twist.

1pbs.org2bbc.com3jstor.org4britannica.com5wilsoncenter.org

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