'We Will Try to Form an Islamic Society'

[barb162]

June 22, 2007 :
INTERVIEW WITH HAMAS CO-FOUNDER MAHMOUD ZAHAR
'We Will Try to Form an Islamic Society'

Mahmoud Zahar -- a founder of Hamas, and one of its most militant hardliners -- has called for an Islamic state in the Gaza Strip. After the Hamas takeover of the territory last week, he's also threatened Fatah with more violence in the West Bank.


SPIEGEL ONLINE: After heavy fighting, Hamas won control over the Gaza Strip last Saturday. But it's not clear what your party now intends to do. The assumption in the Western world is that Hamas wants to establish an Islamic state in Gaza. Is this true?

Zahar: Of course. We want to do that, but with full support of the people. At the moment we can't establish an Islamic state because we Palestinians have no state. As long as we don't have a state, we will try to form an Islamic society.

SPIEGEL ONLINE: How would a Hamas-led Islamic state look?

snip
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,490160,00.html

[pelsar]

1. quite an interesting interview...

Our people can't distinguish between resistance and terrorism

well that certainly explains how throwing people off of roofs, executing them in front of their families is part of their "resistance"....wheres the ISM when you need them?

[barb162]

3. Yeah, where was the ISM when that was going on?

[barb162]

4. Not only that, but how about this one?

"Zahar:... We have a very good image among people throughout the Arab world. If we want, we can get $5 million per month in donations from Egypt. We have also received money from foreign countries in the past -- $82 million from Kuwait, $50 million from Libya. I personally once brought $20 million from Iran to the Gaza Strip in a suitcase. No, actually twice -- the second time it was $22 million."

"We have a very good image among people throughout the Arab world."
Really?
Abbas wins Arab states' backing
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F69114ED-65E3-40...

[pelsar]

5. i guess that settles the "were starving arguement"

since hamas claims they can get all the money they need and have, that sure "lets the air out of the Israel is starving them"..seems one argument after another about how bad the israelis are keep "falling down" thanks to hamas honesty.

[barb162]

6. He still seems to be demanding money from the West

[verbalkint]

9. Yes. Pretty soon they'll have to start accepting responsibility for their situation.

[barb162]

2. dupe

[rayofreason]

7. So this is where our money goes

Zahar: There are naturally very many weapons around now. Two years ago, one bullet in Gaza cost around €3.50 -- now it would cost 35 cents. The American aid money has been translated into weapons. Thank you, America!

Well, what a surprise!

[barb162]

8. He bragged where he could get money elsewhere.

Let him do it again.