| المستخلص: |
On May 1 2017, Hamas issued its General Principles and Policies. The content elaborated on the definition of the group, the land and people of Palestine, the issues of Jerusalem, refugees and right to return, the stand on the Zionist project, occupation and political settlement and the emphasis on resisting the occupation. The document's 42 sections under 12 headings reflect the group's desire to demonstrate balance, flexibility and ability for development, in line with maintaining the Palestinian people's constants and rights. In order to analyze the Israeli attitude, the present report is divided into two parts: the official reactions and comments by journalists and experts. On the one hand, the official reactions ranged between rejection and suspicion. On the other hand, non-officials saw little change in Hamas' mindset and rhetoric, though it stayed as an enemy. Thus, the Israeli policy towards the group may not witness a great deal of change. The Hebrew State is expected to keep fighting Hamas with different tools. According to the conclusion, the stubbornness of the occupation could indicate its concern that the document may enhance the group's foreign relations, especially with Europe and Russia. If the latter finds further international acceptance while Tel Aviv and Washington are planning for a new Middle East which serves their interests, the two powers may not succeed in restraining any proposal bringing the Palestinian issue to the fore. However, a shift may take place in the relation between the group and the Hebrew State, not necessarily due to the document but to relevant regional and international developments. For instance, the variable "war on terror", which dominates such policies, facilitates the Israeli and its supporters' targeting of Hamas by listing it a radical group along with the IS. This is exactly what US President Donald Trump did in his speech at the Riyadh's Arab-Islamic-American summit on May 21 2017.
|
