Hamas’ New Policy Direction

Middle East Policy Council

At a time when Israeli and Palestinian leaders are engaged in face-to-face talks, it might be wise to recall that the winners of the most recent (2006) Palestinian elections, Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement), are not at the table. They will, of course, have an opportunity to be spoilers if their minimal needs are not realized through negotiations. Since it is difficult to get a fair assessment of the party’s ideas from U.S. media stereotypes, presented below is a recent interview from a Jordanian newspaper with Hamas chairman Khaled Mesh’al.

Hamas’ Mesh’al Lays Out New Hamas Policy Direction

Afro-Middle East Centre

This is the most recent interview with Khaled Mesh’al who, since 1996, has been the Chairman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Political Bureau. After the assassination of Hamas leader Abdul ‘Aziz Rantisi in 2004, Mesh’al became the overall leader of the movement.

In this interview with the Jordanian Al-Sabeel newspaper in July 2010, Mesh’al lays out the policy direction of Hamas on a number of critical issues: negotiations with Israel, international relations, Jews, Christians, women, among other issues. The interview – which was conducted over many hours – has been received as significant in the Arab world and is regarded as a clear indication of positions that Hamas wants to pursue, especially with regard to future attitudes towards Israel. It is an important piece articulating, in their own words, the perspectives of Hamas’ leaders, and is critical reading for all observers of the Middle East, and all policy-makers for whom the Middle East is important. The Afro-Middle East Centre (AMEC) translated this interview into English to make it accessible to a wider audience, and allow for greater understanding – especially in the English-speaking world – of the political perspectives of a movement which has become one of the most important role-players in the Middle East today.

> Read the Full Inteview at AMEC.org