The Palestinian Hamas – Vision, Violence and Coexistence - Hardcover

Mishal, Shaul; Sela, Avraham

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0231140061 ISBN 13: 9780231140065

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2006

Synopsis

In The Palestinian Hamas, Shaul Mishal and Avraham Sela show that, contrary to its violent image, Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) is essentially a social and political organization, providing extensive community services and responding to political realities through bargaining and power brokering. The authors lift the veil on Hamas's strategic decision-making methods at each of the crucial crossroads it has confronted: the Intifada and the struggle with the PLO, the Oslo accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority, and the choice between absolute jihad against Israel and controlled violence. Now with a new introduction, this book does much to contextualize the current ascendancy of this controversial movement.

About this title

Review:

Clearly the best book on the subject.--David Remnick, editor in chief of the New Yorker

Two Israeli scholars weigh in with a provocative argument that runs counter to much of the false received wisdom on the subject.... A convincing intervention in the public debate regarding Hamas--a debate that is mainly dominated by the group's demonization.--Rashid Khalidi, author of Palestinian Identity

A necessary read.--Sanford R. Silverburg "Digest of Middle East Studies "

This work makes a significant and long overdue contribution to scholarship on Hamas and Islamist groups.... Mishal and Sela have made here an excellent contribution to the field with a thoughtful, analytical, and well-documented case study which goes far in revealing a realist, 'de-demonized' Hamas.--Middle East Journal

This book does much to contextualize this controversial political movement.--Interaction

Synopsis:

Two experts show how Hamas is essentially a social and political movement that provides extensive community services and responds to political realities through bargaining and power brokering. The authors lift the veil on Hamas' strategic decision-making methods during the Intifada and the struggle with the PLO; the Oslo accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority; and the choice between absolute jihad against Israel and controlled violence. Now with a new introduction, this book does much to contextualize this controversial political movement.

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0231140061
• ISBN 13: 9780231140065
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 272