Because of the great interest shown in our analysis of Saddam Hussein and his identification with Nebuchadnezzar, we have been asked to prepare a similar analysis of the Islamic Fundamentalist Organization, Hamas, which in Arabic means courage and bravery but which in fact is an acronym for "Harakat -Al-Islamia", the Islamic Resistance Movement.

It would be tempting to analyze their structure and motivations but we have decided to let their words speak for themselves and therefore have included a synopsis of their Charter released in August 1988 and the full charter translated by the Israeli Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Information Division, but which is approved by Hamas itself.

Hamas is very important because the corruption and mismanagement of the Palestinian Authority, especially in the poverty stricken Gaza area, has left a tremendous void in welfare and charitable services which Hamas has filled admirably. Even the United Nations feels comfortable at the lack of corruption and efficiency of Hamas in distributing their aid in stark contrast to the PLO and its militant wing Fatah.

Hence Hamas has a tremendous following amongst the poor Palestinians. Which brings us to the most interesting of points. Hamas is obviously a very powerful force amongst the Palestinians and there can be no peace without them. And yet, the Israeli Government has made a great issue about the Charter of the PLO which calls for the destruction of the State of Israel. They have constantly asked for its repudiation before Israel will proceed with the Oslo accords, and rightly so. However as you will see the Hamas Charter makes the PLO Charter seem like a tea party. Why then have not the Israeli and the US Governments called for Hamas to repudiate their Charter as a precondition to the Peace Process?

That question remains unanswered.

THE COVENANT OF THE HAMAS - MAIN POINTS

The Covenant of the Islamic Resistance Movement was issued on August 18, 1988.

The Islamic Resistance Movement, also known as the HAMAS, is an extremist fundamentalist Islamic organization operating in the territories under Israeli control. Its Covenant is a comprehensive manifesto comprised of 36 separate articles, all of which promote the basic HAMAS goal of destroying the State of Israel through Jihad (Islamic Holy War). The following are excerpts of the HAMAS Covenant: Goals of the HAMAS:

'The Islamic Resistance Movement is a distinguished Palestinian movement, whose allegiance is to Allah, and whose way of life is Islam. It strives to raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine.' (Article 6)

On the Destruction of Israel:

'Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.'

The Exclusive Moslem Nature of the Area:

'The land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf [Holy Possession] consecrated for future Moslem generations until Judgment Day. No one can renounce it or any part, or abandon it or any part of it.  '(Article 11)'

Palestine is an Islamic land

Since this is the case, the Liberation of Palestine is an individual duty for every Moslem wherever he may be.' (Article 13)

The Call to Jihad:

'The day the enemies usurp part of Moslem land, Jihad becomes the individual duty of every Moslem. In the face of the Jews' usurpation, it is compulsory that the banner of Jihad be raised.' (Article 15)

'Ranks will close, fighters joining other fighters, and masses everywhere in the Islamic world will come forward in response to the call of duty, loudly proclaiming: 'Hail to Jihad!'. This cry will reach the heavens and will go on being resounded until liberation is achieved, the invaders vanquished and Allah's victory comes about.  '(Article 33)

Rejection of a Negotiated Peace Settlement:

'[Peace] initiatives, and so-called peaceful solutions and international conferences are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement... Those conferences are no more than a means to appoint the infidels as arbitrators in the lands of Islam... There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are but a waste of time, an exercise in futility.' (Article 13)

Condemnation of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty:

'Egypt was, to a great extent, removed from the circle of struggle [against Zionism] through the treacherous Camp David Agreement. The Zionists are trying to draw other Arab countries into similar agreements in order to bring them outside the circle of struggle....Leaving the circle of struggle against Zionism is high treason, and cursed be he who perpetrates such an act.' (Article 32)

Anti-Semitic Incitement:

"The Day of Judgment will not come about until Moslems fight Jews and kill them. Then, the Jews will hide behind rocks and trees, and the rocks and trees will cry out: 'O Moslem, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.' (Article 7)

'The enemies have been scheming for a long time ... and have accumulated huge and influential material wealth. With their money, they took control of the world media... With their money they stirred revolutions in various parts of the globe... They stood behind the French Revolution, the Communist Revolution and most of the revolutions we hear about... With their money they formed secret organizations - such as the Freemasons, Rotary Clubs and the Lions -which are spreading around the world, in order to destroy societies and carry out Zionist interests... They stood behind World War I ...and formed the League of Nations through which they could rule the world. They were behind World War II, through which they made huge financial gains... There is no war going on anywhere without them having their finger in it.' (Article 22)

'Zionism scheming has no end, and after Palestine, they will covet expansion from the Nile to the Euphrates River. When they have finished digesting the area on which they have laid their hand, they will look forward to more expansion. Their scheme has been laid out in the 'Protocols of the Elders of Zion'.' (Article 32)

'The HAMAS regards itself the spearhead and the vanguard of the circle of struggle against World Zionism... Islamic groups all over the Arab world should also do the same, since they are best equipped for their future role in the fight against the warmongering Jews.  '(Article 32). Here is the full charter.

Any Questions.

Michael S. Sanders

Irvine, California

April 24, 1998