A few leading Hamas figures have opened Facebook pages over the past few weeks, as part of the organization's broader attempt to win hearts and minds among the Palestinian public to reverse its declining support in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
According to an opinion poll published Wednesday by the Jerusalem Media and Communications Center, 39.2 percent of West Bank and Gaza Palestinians have faith in Fatah, while only 16.6 percent put their trust in Hamas.
Hamas is now trying to rebrand itself as a more open and, above all, a more moderate movement. The strategy is rooted in part in the organization's fear of a rout in next year's expected parliamentary and presidential elections, and is being expressed in the softer tack being taken by certain senior officials.
Senior Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, for instance, said during the reconciliation process with Fatah that Hamas was willing to give negotiations with Israel another chance. But that drew fire from some of his colleagues, demonstrating that not everyone is on board.
It is the first time that Hamas announces openly its rejection to Fayyad to lead the government. Abbas wants Fayyad to be the upcoming premier due to his acceptance by the West to avoid international isolation of the government.
Meanwhile, President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party, Hamas' main rival, condemned Hamas' attempts to impose its stances prior to next week's meeting in Cairo to discuss the formation of the government.
A Fatah leader criticized Abu Marzouk's statements, adding that he should not talk this way in the media. "The positions should have been better announced on the table of dialogue, not through the media," said Hussien al-Sheikh of Fatah.
He noted that this issue would be discussed thoroughly when Hamas and Fatah meet on Tuesday.
Abbas assigned Fayyad, the western-backed economist, to lead the government in the West Bank after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized Gaza in 2007. Hamas has been ruling Gaza since then with its own administration.
On Tuesday, representatives of Hamas and Fatah will talk about the formation of a technocratic government in accordance with the Egyptian-brokered agreement that was signed early last month. The agreement is sought to end political split between Gaza and the West Bank.
The United States and most European countries classify Hamas as a terrorist organization for refusing to recognize Israel.
No comments:
Post a Comment