Hamas official criticizes government

[Indian_Eyess]

Hamas official criticizes government
By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer 27 minutes ago

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - In a rare case of self-criticism, a senior official in the Hamas-led government said the Palestinians have bungled the aftermath of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and called on residents to stop blaming Israel for all their woes.

Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led government, urged Palestinians to look beyond the conflict with Israel in searching for the causes of internal violence and lawlessness sweeping through the Gaza Strip.

"I am not interested in discussing the ugliness and brutality of the occupation because it is not a secret. Instead, I prefer self-criticism and self-evaluation," Hamad wrote in an article slated for publication in Palestinian newspapers Monday.

A year ago, Israel was completing its withdrawal of all troops and settlements from Gaza after a 38-year occupation. The withdrawal raised hopes the Palestinians would rebuild the impoverished coastal strip as the first step toward gaining full independence in Gaza and the West Bank.

However, rival Palestinian factions have been locked in a violent power struggle, and fighting with Israel has continued. Tensions with Israel have only worsened since Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in January.

"Our extreme joy at their departure made us forget the most important question: What is our next step?" Hamad wrote. "We heard that a promising future was waiting for us and for Gaza — and so we were optimistic that the blood of our martyrs and injured and the suffering of the entire country hadn't been in vain."

He said the easiest explanation to justify the "failure" is to blame the Israelis.

"As a consequence, we became limited in our thinking — unable to think except within a very small cycle," he wrote. "We were never able to be active about events, and on the rare occasion that we succeeded, we were not able to use it to move the process forward."

Hamad said his article was a personal opinion and did not represent the position of the government.


Members of the Hamas-led government militia stop a car for a search in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis Saturday Aug. 26, 2006. Palestinian officials said Saturday they expect to have 'good news' about two kidnapped Fox News journalists seized on Aug. 14, cameraman Olaf Wiig of New Zealand, and correspondent Steve Centanni, within two days and believe the hostages are unharmed. Their captors, from a previously unknown group, demanded the release of all Muslims imprisoned by the U.S. by Saturday. (AP Photo/Hatem Moussa)

[ThomasMcCabe]

The beginning of a maturing process. Introspection is a welcome trait.

[Indian_Eyess]

Originally Posted by ThomasMcCabe

The beginning of a maturing process. Introspection is a welcome trait.

Self-criticism is healthy sometimes.

[ThomasMcCabe]

Originally Posted by Indian_Eyess

Self-criticism is healthy sometimes.

Same thing. I worry about that guy's safety though. On the Israeli side, I do know that demonstrators against the war were heckled and called names.

[Indian_Eyess]

Originally Posted by ThomasMcCabe

Same thing. I worry about that guy's safety though. On the Israeli side, I do know that demonstrators against the war were heckled and called names.

Well, he is a powerful politician, being a spokesman from Hamas, he is a respected and protected politican. I hope that the Palestinians do take his word for reconstruction.