A report published by Israel's Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center analyzes a recent speech by Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al, in which he presented Hamas' alternative to the Palestinian Authority's approach towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the speech, Mash'al slammed the PLO leadership, denied the legitimacy of Israel, ruled out negotiations with Israel in their present form, and called for the continuation of jihad and armed struggle.
In a previous interview with Al-Sabil, the Muslim Brotherhood's newspaper in Jordan, Mash'al completely rejected any recognition of Israel. He did not, however, rule out a possible long-term ceasefire with Israel that would not involve recognizing Israel.
The report notes that it's likely Mash'al's belligerent rhetoric was motivated by the decision of the Arab League to endorse direct Israel-PA talks. Mash'al's speech, and the interview to Al-Sabil, are a challenge by Hamas to the views of the PA, the Arab League, and pragmatic Arab countries, offering Hamas' ideological and strategic alternative based on the path of jihad and "resistance" as a major factor in the conflict with Israel (even though Hamas does not completely rule out negotiations with Israel, provided they are conducted under the appropriate circumstances and from a Palestinian position of power).
The analysts write that statements made by Mash'al (and other Hamas spokesmen) strongly reflect the tension between Hamas' fundamental extremist views and its desire to improve relations with Western countries, achieve recognition at the expense of the PA, and to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel on the international scene (taking advantage of events viewed by Hamas as successful, such as the flotilla). At this point, however, it is the ideological foundations that have the upper hand in the struggle between radical Islamic ideology and pragmatic needs.
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