Straight From the Mouth of Hamas
The following is an interview with Dr. 'Abdel Aziz al-Rantisi by Kul al-Arab newspper on January 9. Dr. Rantisi, a leading figure in Hamas, is 50 years old, and is a father of six. Translated by J. Baker
Are you originally from Khan Younis?
No. I was born in Yubna and I fled from there with my family to the Gaza Strip in 1948. Yubna is in the center of the country close to Jaffa. It was mentioned in the battles of Saladin.
Have you visited Yubna?
Yes, and I have seen our house. I found a right-wing family living there.
How did that affect you?
Very strongly. The image of my city, as my parents have told me, my home and my parents' flight with me in their arms does not leave my mind. In general, the issue of forced exile from our homeland has had a profound effect on my thinking.
Where did you study religious and fundamentalist theory?
I studied in Egypt for nine years, where I received my BA in pediatric medicine. While there, I was greatly influenced by the philosophy of the Muslim Brotherhood. When I returned to Gaza in 1976, I became part of the Muslim Brotherhood movement.
When did you become a leader in Hamas?
I was one of seven: Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, 'Abdel Fattah Dukhan, Mohammed Shama', Dr. Ibrahim al-Yazour, Issa al-Najjar, Salah Shehadeh and myself.
Some say that Hamas took advantage of the Intifada for your own benefit. (With a bitter laugh) Whoever says that does not know anything. Frankly, we were the ones who declared the Intifada and encouraged the people to rise up. The seven of us gathered together after the truck incident [in which four Palestinians were killed] and instructed people to exit the mosques chanting "Allah Akbar" (God is great). A month and a half later the PLO joined and a united leadership was formed. This is after it was said at first that the Mossad was behind the Intifada.
What effect did [the deportation to] Marj al-Zuhour have on you personally and on your comrades?
Marj al-Zuhour was a cornerstone. After that, Hamas emerged as a player in the international arena. Prior to this incident, the movement had been local and limited. Later on, it became even better known through the martyr operations which shook the world.
But the suicide operations also branded you as terrorists assaulting civilians. You call them "suicide operations" and I call them "martyr operations". They are not terrorism. They are a response to Israeli terrorism, individuals and governmental, against Palestinian civilians. We should remember that these martyr operations began after the massacre committed by the terrorist Baruch Goldstein [in the Hebron mosque in 1994] and intensified after the assassination of Yahya Ayash.
But why civilians?
We do not support the killing of civilians and we would prefer that not one civilian be killed. If Israel's aggressive acts of killing, starving, arresting and settlement building stop, then we will halt our operations against [Israeli] civilians.
So you would agree to a settlement with the Israelis?
No settlement, no peace and no halt of Jihad as long as there is occupation. But we have announced our readiness for a truce in which there would be a withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza in return for a ceasefire.
Would [Hamas] formally recognize Israel though this truce?
No recognition of the Zionist entity. For if I cannot liberate [Palestine] then then future generations will inevitably do so.
Dr. Rantisi, don't you see that this has only become a slogan which will be difficult to achieve because of the balance of power and the weakness, division and despair of the Arabs? Yes. I agree that the balance of power is not to our advantage. But does that jgiving up Palestine? for the weakness of the Arabs, there are defeated or weak people or those who care more for their personal life and wealth. They are not willing to sacrifice one penny. [At the same time] there are thousands who feel their souls are a cheap price to pay for their country.
Why do you attack Arafat? What do you want from him?
[We attack Arafat] because he gave up Palestine and abandoned the National Charter. Have we forgotten that the PLO was originally established in 1964 for the liberation of the 1948 lands?
But the PLO believes that it is the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. We differ with the PLO on this. We had a dialogue with them prior to the release of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, and said that the PLO does not represent all the Palestinian parties and movements, therefore it is not the sole legitimate representative of the people.
But Hamas is asking for one third of the seats on the national council and one third of the PLO institutions. This is too much. It is actually too little. Today we are demanding 40 percent representation, although we are sure that we represent more [of the population] than that.
Where did you get these estimates, especially since you did not participate in the elections? I'm not here to evaluate Hamas' strength. However, Hamas is strong. You only have to look at the student councils in universities in the West Bank and Gaza.
But the latest opinion polls show support for Arafat at 62 percent and for Ahmad Yassin at 4 percent. (Laughingly) That is a joke.
Were you satisfied with the deal under which Sheikh Yassin was set free?
I was not satisfied. Israel released the sheikh only as a deal with Jordan after the attack on Khalid Masha'al.
Let us return to the issue of the struggle. How do you see the future of the Jews in this county? The only matter which concerns me is the future of my people. And what worries me is for how long they will remain displaced and their lands occupied.
Is there no possibility for accepting a part of Palestine in order to end the struggle?
All the land of Palestine is a part of the Islamic faith and the Caliph Omar bin al-Khattab declared it for all Muslims. Therefore, no individual or group has the right to sell it or give it up.
I see that you have no security men. Aren't you afraid of being killed or assassinated?
Could I possibly have more security than Rabin had? And he was assassinated. We know that there are dangers but we have proven to Israel that they will pay a high price for any attack on us.
Do you see any possibility of a dialogue with the Israeli left?
I do not believe in the Peace Now movement. Whoever colonized my land and expelled me from it is an invader even if he is a leftist. If people occupy a country which is not theirs and found a peace movement, does this change the fact that they are occupiers?