(January 16, 2016 at 2:51 pm)abaris Wrote: Hamas is a direct result of the West, and especially Israel, wanting to get rid of Arafat. Who was a real nationalist. Hamas, if not an outright religious radical organisation, at least has many fundamentalist members within it's ranks. And they know how to play their cards right, which isn't that hard, given all the destruction. They are seen as the providers of food and shelter.
The only thing I agree with you on, is that Hamas is the elected power of the region. If they are seen as the enemy and peace making can only be brokered by negotiating with the enemy, the claim of not negotiating with terrorist organisations is entirely stupid.
I'm old enough to remember the negotiations between Menachem Begin and Anwar Al Saddat. Both were nationalist. The drop into this being an - at least in parts - religiously motivated struggle, only happened in the late 80ies, with the first Intifada and it's aftermath.
For a long while Arabs were starting to get stripped from Islam & incline more & more towards nationalism. You gotta remember those 50s & 60s days when it was rare to see city girls wearing "Hijab" in Cairo, Beirut and most of the Arab capitals.
And the days of Saddat were partially in that era. You're right; it only made the religious shift "late".
Muslims lost everything, only Mecca remains, and even that is considered in the hands of the Sauds -which isn't Islamic in any way; according to my POV).
And now, the "Umma" will show its claws and deliver a final blow, before it falls & dies, or "change" skins.
I don't remember the first intefada. I don't also know why it started. Something to do with the borders of 67 ?
