The dilemma of establishing clear identity and goals became a more urgent matter for Hamas ever since it obtained power and played a new role in Palestinian policy after 2006. It faced a shaky working environment and circumstances. The Charter was oftentimes a source of judging Hamas and criticizing its affiliation and overall objectives. Some of these critics questioned the belonging of Hamas to the National Palestinian Struggle, and accused the movement of belonging to trans-boundary projects, besides drawing an anti-Semitic image of Hamas. This chapter highlights on how Hamas reproduced its image, identity, and goals in the new Political Document of 2017, considering the evolution of Hamas' role since 2006.
TopIntroduction
The dilemma of establishing clear identity and goals became a more urgent matter for Hamas ever since it obtained power and played a new role in Palestinian policy after 2006. It faced a shaky working environment and circumstances. The Charter was oftentimes a source of judging Hamas and criticizing its affiliation and overall objectives. Some of these critics questioned the belonging of Hamas to the National Palestinian Struggle, and accused the movement of belonging to trans-boundary projects, besides drawing an anti-Semitic image of Hamas. It was mentioned earlier in the introduction that there is a difference between the Charter of 1988 and the Political Document of 2017 in terms of timing, conditions, and goals of their issuance. Both represented different objectives and subjective circumstances, as well as stages in which Hamas lived. The Charter was issued during the beginning of the establishment of Hamas as a political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood. It was then imbued with idealism, utopianism, and religious discourse; and was needed to reflect Hamas differently from the remainder of the Palestinian factions, and to attract its supporters. Additionally, the Charter also expressed Hamas in the opposition, particularly opposing the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) approach and ideologies. Hamas’ Document of General Principles and Policies, which is referred to as “The New Document”, came after the movement played various roles in Palestinian politics, and went through the experience of Government. This chapter highlights how Hamas reproduced its image, identity, and goals in the new Political Document of 2017, considering the evolution of Hamas’ role since 2006.
The New Political Document covers limited issues against the broad series of issues the 1988 charter had covered. This Chapter focuses on three significant manifestations that refer to Hamas' attempts to overcome its dilemma of undefined identity and goals. The first is the disengagement with the Muslim Brotherhood; the second is the “Palestinizing” of Hamas’ goals; and the third is ‘politicalizing’ the conflict with Israel.
Prior to the discussion, the following explanation, on one hand, sheds light on the reason Hamas revoked its Charter, but decided not to amend it, and on the other hand, highlights the significance of calling the new literature a “Document” and not a “Charter”.