Coder: Ben Berkman AUTONOMOUS POLITICAL ENTITY CODESHEET APE Vital Statistics: Autonomous Political Entity (name(s) of APE):

Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) An acronym of the Arabic Harakat al-Muqawama al-Islamiyya; which translates into meaning zeal (Israel: General Non-state Conflict Information). Year of birth: 2006 was the formation of the government, and thus the year of birth of the APE. Hamas was founded on December 14, 1987 (Hroub, vii). How born: On January 25, 2006 Hamas won dominantly in Palestinian Legislative Council elections (a year prior they won in partial municipal elections). The PLC, although a quasiparliament with limited sovereign powers, represents the embodiment of Palestinian political legitimacy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. By virtue of its victory Hamas formed a government and became the leading force in the national Palestinian struggle for the first time since it was founded in late 1987 (Hroub, vii). Thus, Hamas was born. Year of death: n/a How died: n/a Connection to Other APEs (e.g. splinter group): Ran against Fatah the largest political faction of the PLO in 2006 elections. While Fatah declared a no-ideology affiliation and a secular outlook, Hamas assumed a stance of Islamic resistance (Hroub, xi). Both were factions of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, a national umbrella front for the Palestinian struggle (Hroub, xi). A collection of the Muslim Brotherhoods which took place in the late 1980s (Hroub, 9). Hosts (official state to which APEs assets incorrectly/eventually assigned): In 2006, won democratic elections giving Hamas control of Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza (Hroub, x). Many consider Palestine part of Israel. APE country code (filled in by Lemke): APE Physical/Political Characteristics: Geographic Area of APE (estimates, with years): Geographic area of Hamas, which hopes to establish an Islamic state, is more of an ideal than a reality: o The Islamic state put forth early in Hamas literature was visualized to include the whole of Palestine from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea (Hroub, 21). But many consider this a utopian nationalist goal, and Hamas has mentioned this less and less in recent literature (Hroub, 21).

o The Palestinian state has come to be characterized as just the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, both of which are Palestinian occupied territories. Colloquially termed Palestine. The Palestinians purported state had no fixed national boundaries. However, Gaza and the West Bank (including Arab East Jerusalem) the de facto physical areas of Palestine combined to be 6,335 km squared, about the size of Brunei (Geldenhuys, 158).

On November 29, 1947 the United Nations Partitioned Palestine to reflect the following map, containing both a Jewish and Arab State within Israel. The Palestinians ultimately abolished this outline:

(Biger, 82) The US Presidential Parameters further specified the borders:

(Biger, 86)

Characteristics of Area (mountains, jungles, etc): Primarily desert, the Gaza Strip is on the Mediterranean Sea (The World Factbook) Population of APE (estimates, with years): Regime Type Characteristics of APE:

Hamas is as genuine in its democratic conviction as any other political party, in a region inexperienced in this form of government (Hroub, 63). o After 2006 elections, prime minister and cabinet were elected. In fact, maybe too democratic: instead of mandating the prime minister to form his government as a working unit based on professional and political considerations, all of the individual ministers were imposed on him in a democratic but perhaps more shambolic fashion from the party floor (Hroub, 64). The Palestinian political environment is not receptive to any kind of authoritarian rule, Hamas and rival Fatah continuously clash (Hroub, 65).

Characteristics of APEs military: Hamas in the eyes of many Westerner, official and lay alike has always been reduced to a mere terrorist group whose only function is and has been to aimlessly kill Israelis (Hroub, viii). o Suicide bombings first seen in 1994, in retaliation for a massacre of Palestinians praying in a mosque in the Palestinian city of Hebron. Since then, all of Hamass vicious attacks against Israeli civilians have been directly linked to specific Israel atrocities against Palestinian civilians (Hroub, xvii). While various forms of rebellion have been used in Hamas existence (uprisings, strikes, suicide bombings, military attacks), the all possess the ultimate aim of all resistance is to force unconditional Israeli withdrawal (Hroub, 45). o Unlike other Palestinian movements, Hamas wants this withdrawal with no rights of their own surrendered. Achieved Sovereign Recognition (list by whom: other APEs, IOs, etc.): European Union: black-listed as a European Union designated terrorist group since 2003 ("EU Blacklists Hamas Political Wing). Israel: according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hamas maintains a terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, and acts to carry out terrorist attacks in the territories and Israel (The Financial Sources of the Hamas Terror Organization-July 2003) China: considers Hamas a legitimate APE that serves the Palestinian people (Zambelis). United States: considers Hamas a Foreign Terrorist Organization (Country Reports on Terrorism). Miscellaneous Information about APE: APE Leader Characteristics: Name(s) of APE Leader(s) with Dates of Leadership: The leadership structure of Hamas is divided into two somewhat parallel but slightly dissimilar parts, one inside Palestine and one outside Palestine (Hroub, 117). Split into three geographical areas: West Bank, Gaza Strip, and exile communities. Gaza Branch is considered the most influential, important.

There have been no authoritarian personalities or ultra-charismatic leaders who have used their influence to impose any individual vision on the entire movement (Hroub, 119). Sheikh Ahmad Yassin considered the founder of Hamas. o Founded Hamas during first Intifada (1987), served as leader and spiritual advisor until his death (2004) (Hroub, 124). Abdul Aziz al-Rantisi (Gaza Branch) o Assumed leadership of Hamas in Gaza in spring 2004, after assassination of Yassin (Hroub, 127). Assassinated a month later. Mahmoud al-Zahhar (Gaza Branch, foreign minister of Hamas government) o Elected in 2006 after assassinations of Yassin and al-Rantisi (Hroub, 128). In office until 2007. Ismail Haniya (Gaza Brank, prime minister of Hamas Government) o March 29, 2006 current (Hroub, 132).

How became Leader: Yassin: Imprisoned for life on charges of directing military cells against Israeli soldiers. Freed in 1997 after pressure by the late King Hussein of Jordanwho was in the country at that time (Hroub, 124). Founded Hamas after being released Al-Rantisi: politically active throughout youth, a member of Palestinian Muslim Brotherhood (Hroub, 127). Al-Zahhar: Elected in 2006 after assassinations of Yassin and al-Rantisi (Hroub, 128). Haniya: studied at the Islamic University in Gaza, where his leadership fortunes were shaped as a prominent figure among the Islamist students in the early 1980s (Hroub, 130). How removed from Leadership: Yassin: killed, by helicopter attack (Hroub, 123). Al-Rantisi: assassinate Fate 1 Year after Removal from Leadership: Yassin: dead Al-Rantisit: dead Profession before Leadership: Yassin: Schoolteacher by profession, a sheikh often and in Yassins case is used by the community simply as a mark of deep affection and respect (Hroub, 124). Gender: Male Miscellaneous Information about Leader: Yassin: o Fully paralyzed in a wheelchair since age 11 (Hroub, 123). o At age of 66, killed by Israeli helicopter along with nine others (Hroub, 123).

o Was one of the founders of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Gaza Strip (Hroub, 123). o Grew up there because his family, along with thousands of others, were driven out of their homes and into Gaza APE International Relations: Wars/Conflicts (names, dates, opponents) APE Fought: 1987: First Intifada o Jihad members who freed themselves from an Israeli prison and engaged in a shoot-out with the Israeli soldiers. Served as the flashpoint for the creation of Hamas, which formed six days later (Hroub, 14). 2000: Second Intifada o The Oslo Agreement introduced a five-year interim phasewhich if it proved successful would be followed by a second phase of negotiations of a final settlement towards an independent Palestine (Hroub, xiii). However, these seconds negotiations never transpired, and the second intifada erupted in 2000 against Israel, giving more power and influence to Hamas and its resistance project (Hroub, xiv). Since its inception, according to Hroub, the number of Israelis killed by Hamas is only one fourth of the Palestinians killed by Israel, over that time period (Hroub, 55). 2006: Fatah-Hamas, also known as the Palestinian Civil War o After Hamas ousted Fatah in PNA elections, security in the Palestinian territories began to crumble. Hamas formed its own security outfits to tackle Fatah the Executive Forces. Hamastook on, and were attacked by, Fatah-affiliated PNA security forces, AMB operatives and armed Fatah members. The FatahHamas conflict thus is not one of radically opposed ideologies, but one of rivalry over power and the role of representing the Palestinian people and struggle ("Israel: General Non-state Conflict Information") In 2007, Hamas attacked Fatah, gaining control of the Gaza Strip while Fatah retained its grasp in the West Bank. Violence resulted, largely in densely populated city streets, with the following fatalities:

("Israel: General Non-state Conflict Information") Alliances (names, dates, partners) APE Forged: No true official alliances, but numerous countries have publically supported Hamas, if only due to its stance against Israel (Hroub, 93).

o Included: Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, and Libya Has almost full diplomatic status in Tehran. In the other countries, Hamas has offices and spokespersons and operates at the political and media level (Hroub, 93). Another group of states known to support Hamas includes: Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait (Hroub, 93). Beyond the Arab region, positive relations with Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey (Hroub, 94).

Treaties (names, dates, partners) APE Signed: Oslo Agreements of 1993/1994: offered Palestinians limited self-rule but only over the Palestinian population for a five-year test period. Hamas rejects this agreement, stating these are capitulation treaties, not peace agreements (Hroub, 60). Arms Transfers (partners, dates) APE experienced: n/a Timber, Drugs, Diamonds, Crime: n/a Descriptive Narrative of APE: Hamas is viewed in many ways by many governments. To some, including the European Union and the United States, its a terrorist organization that looks to violently eradicate Jews from the state of Israel. To others, including world diplomatic power China, its a legitimate APE that works to serve the Palestinian people. No matter the stance, Hamas or the Islamic Resistance Movement is an organization dedicated to righting the plight of Muslims in the Palestinian territories. The de facto state of Hamas, an Arabic acronym for zeal, was born on January 25, 2006 after forcefully defeating Fatah in Palestinian Legislative Council elections. The PLC, though limited in regards to sovereign power, is the foremost political representative of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As such, with this victory and ensuing formation of a government, the autonomous political entity of Hamas was created. Decades before its victories in the PLC elections, Hamas was founded in 1987, after the First Intifada a series of Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, considered by many the father of Hamas, founded the movement after being released from jail. Like many other succeeding Hamas leaders, Yassin was killed by the Israeli military. In a region poorly versed in democratic leadership, Hamas has veered away from authoritarian control. After its 2006 PLC victories, a prime minister and cabinet were elected. In fact, this choice may have proven to be too decentralized, as Hroub writes, instead of mandating the prime minister to form his government as a working unit based on professional and political considerations, all of the individual ministers were imposed on him in a democratic but perhaps more shambolic fashion from the party floor (64). Due to the fact that Hamas and Fatah constantly quarrel, and the constituencies of both groups are so fundamentally different, the Palestinian political environment does not lend itself to authoritarian rule (Hroub, 65). Many Western states view Hamas solely as a terrorist group, function primarily to kill Israelis. However, as Hroub explains, since the first Hamas sanctioned suicide bombing in 1994,

all of Hamass vicious attacks against Israeli civilians have been directly linked to specific Israel atrocities against Palestinian civilians (xvii). Moreover, unlike other Palestinian movement, Hamas seeks unconditional Israeli withdrawal with no rights of their own surrendered (Hroub, 45).

References: "Country Reports on Terrorism." U.S. Department of State. Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, 27 Apr. 2005. Web. Deon Geldenhuys. 2009. Contested States in World Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. "EU Blacklists Hamas Political Wing." BBC News. BBC, 09 Nov. 2003. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. Gideon Biger. 2008. The Boundaries of Israel Palestine Past, Present, and Future: A Critical Geographical View. Israel Studies Vol. 13, No. 1, Territory and Space in Israeli Society and Politics. Hroub, Khaled. Hamas: A Beginner's Guide. Ann Arbor, MI: Pluto, 2006. Print. "Israel: General Non-state Conflict Information." Uppsala Conflict Encyclopedia. Uppsala Universitet, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. "The Financial Sources of the Hamas Terror Organization-July 2003." Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. N.p., 30 July 2003. Web. The World Factbook 2013-14. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2013. Zambelis, Chris. "Chinas Palestine Policy." The Jamestown Foundation. N.p., 4 Mar. 2009. Web.