Hamas, the main Islamist movement in the Palestinian territories, was born soon after the previous intifada erupted in 1987. The organization opposes the Oslo peace process and its short-term aim is a complete Israeli withdrawal from the Palestinian territories. Hamas does not recognize the right of Israel to exist. Its long-term aim is to establish an Islamic state on land originally mandated as Palestine - most of which has been contained within Israel's borders since its creation in 1948. The grass-roots organization - with a political and a military wing - has an unknown number of hard-core members but tens of thousands of supporters and sympathizers.
It has two main functions: 1) it is involved in building schools and hospitals in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and in helping the community in social and religious ways. 2) The military wing of Hamas - known as the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades - has carried out a series of bloody attacks against Israeli targets. In February and March 1996, Hamas carried out several bus bombings, killing nearly 60 Israelis. It was also blamed for attacks in 1997 in Jerusalem which killed 15 people, and brought the peace process grinding to a halt. Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority (PA) - the government-in-waiting if a Palestinian state is established - views Hamas as a serious rival, yet the Palestinian leader has tried to co-opt the movement into mainstream politics. But his insistence that Hamas recognize the PA as the only national authority in the Palestinian territories and cease military operations against Israel has been resisted. Hamas argues that to accept the PA would be to recognize the Oslo accords - which Islamist groups saw as nothing more than a security deal between the PA, Israel and the US, with the ultimate aim of wiping them out. Despite a fierce offensive against the group in 1996, when the PA arrested some 1,000 Palestinians and took over mosques in Gaza, the PA has been careful not to drive Hamas underground.
by Dancing with Fire January 22, 2011
Get the Hamas mug.Ok I dunno who keeps posting that NH sucks but they can't be more wrong. It's a beautiful state that offers beaches, mountains, and Boston all within 45 min. You get the best of all 4 seasons, fall is the best with the gorgeous foliage. We were one of the original colonies and the first to vote in the primaries and people from outside of New England don't even know we exist, nevermind give us credit for anything. We have no sales tax and the only bad thing is that all the Massholes come up to shop here, but it's ok cuz we get their money.
by Ashcheeks May 1, 2005
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1) A Japanese singing deity.
2) One of the main reasons I and probably everyone else watch Inuyasha.
3) J-Pop Queeen.
2) One of the main reasons I and probably everyone else watch Inuyasha.
3) J-Pop Queeen.
by MayGah February 8, 2004
Get the Ayumi Hamasaki mug.The most underrated state in the nation. Short drive to the city, to the shore and to the mountains. Massachusetts winos' savior on Sunday. Massachusetts whinos' savior around Christmas.
by Brett May 13, 2005
Get the New Hampshire mug.To be radically cool,
often uses words such as epic, uber, rofl, and lol.
but not on msn.
he finds people who use abbreviations and stuff to be gayy =)
he is also gangstarr.
no one disses his grills, yo ;)
often uses words such as epic, uber, rofl, and lol.
but not on msn.
he finds people who use abbreviations and stuff to be gayy =)
he is also gangstarr.
no one disses his grills, yo ;)
by Hamcats January 5, 2009
Get the Hamish mug.by sssssammmi February 13, 2007
Get the Habash mug.A hick little town in the middle of no where (new hampshire) The population of about....7 including 3 cows and 2.5 chickens. They say there is a boy their called BIRDMAN a kid is called this because his nostrils are flaired and he contains birdlike symptons. They say he flys around at night crowing like a bird. All in all nobody likes chester.
by tom necant October 28, 2009
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