American University in Cairo Press eBooks, Jan 15, 2017
Acknowledging the prevalent interrelationship between domestic democratization efforts and extern... more Acknowledging the prevalent interrelationship between domestic democratization efforts and external conflict, this chapter discusses the nature of the political transformation process that Hamas has undergone regarding, first, participation in Palestinian national elections and, second, regarding the issue of negotiations and compromise with Israel. Finally, it explores how the massive European and international pressure on Hamas for unconditional concessions toward Israel has affected the internal political dynamics of the movement. The underlying key question is whether the EU's failure to respond positively to the chain of conciliatory steps undertaken by Hamas in effect hampered the transformation process toward political moderation that was set in motion by Hamas' parliamentary participation. In other words, has the confrontational policy of the EU nurtured or quelled the potential for further moderation of Hamas policies?
... It is difficult not to conclude from the experiences of Hourani and Abdel Rahman that their m... more ... It is difficult not to conclude from the experiences of Hourani and Abdel Rahman that their main function in the negotiation team was to ... According to Akram Hanieh, one of Arafat's advisers, the Palestinians opened up for a far-reaching compromise through the explicit distinction ...
... We are fortunate in having a close working relation-ship with Dr. Salim Tamari and Professor ... more ... We are fortunate in having a close working relation-ship with Dr. Salim Tamari and Professor Eliah Zureik. ... Warm thanks go to the Middle East desk at the Foreign Minis-try: Special Coordinator for Middle East Affairs, Ambassador Rolf Trolle Andersen, Minister Counselor Hans ...
Fordrivelse, forfølgelse og okkupasjon. Det er erfaringer flere folkegrupper i Midtøsten og Nord-... more Fordrivelse, forfølgelse og okkupasjon. Det er erfaringer flere folkegrupper i Midtøsten og Nord-Afrika har måttet leve med innenfor dagens statsgrenser. For dem er frihet i egen stat fortsatt en fjern drøm. Kurderne er splittet mellom flere stater, palestinerne og sahrawiene er fordrevet eller okkupert, mens berberne opplever undertrykkelse og diskriminering. Denne bildereportasjen viser noen glimt fra kurdere i Iran og Irak, palestinere i Libanon og Palestina, og berbere og sahrawier i Algerie. Alle bilder: Are Hovdenak
Hamas var inne i en turbulent prosess før og etter valgseieren i 2006. Prosessen bar dem i retnin... more Hamas var inne i en turbulent prosess før og etter valgseieren i 2006. Prosessen bar dem i retning av en mer pragmatisk politikk både på hjemmebane og i forhold til Israel. Snarere enn å hjelpe Hamas gjennom omstillingsperioden, bidro det internasjonale presset og boikotten til en reversering av moderasjonsprosessen.
On 14 June 2007, after five days of heavy fighting, armed forces of the Islamic Resistance Moveme... more On 14 June 2007, after five days of heavy fighting, armed forces of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas overran the barracks and headquarters of the security forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Gaza Strip. More than three years later, Hamas remains in firm control in Gaza, seemingly self-confident, having survived in power despite a tight Israeli–Egyptian blockade, international sanctions and a major Israeli military assault. Its transformation of PA institutions and handling of the task of providing public services indicate that Hamas has both the ability and the will to rule Gaza on a long-term basis.
This report explores to what extent the phenomenon of al-Qaida has made an impact on the Palestin... more This report explores to what extent the phenomenon of al-Qaida has made an impact on the Palestinian political scene, focusing on the situation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, where a myriad of small groups claiming adherence to salafi-jihadi ideology has been established during the past few years. Three aspects of the relationship between the Palestinian polity and the global network of al-Qaida are discussed. First, the report reviews the attempts by al-Qaida leaders to influence the Palestinian audience by the means of propaganda transmitted in the media. Second, it investigates indications of operational activities by al-Qaida inspired groups in the Palestinian territories. Third, the report analyses how Hamas has responded to the challenge of al-Qaida and to what extent the ideology of the latter has influenced the policies of Hamas itself.
The analysis is based on media reports, academic literature, and transcripts of messages posted by al-Qaida leaders and their Palestinian supporters on the Internet, as well as field work interviews with Hamas leaders, Palestinian politicians, academics and observers.
This article discusses the nature of the political transformation process that the Islamic Resist... more This article discusses the nature of the political transformation process that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has undergone over the past decade regarding, first, political participation in Palestinian institutions, and second, the issue of negotiations and compromise with Israel. Finally, it explores how the European and international pressure on Hamas for unconditional concessions towards Israel has affected the internal political dynamics of the movement. Based on fieldwork interviews with Hamas leaders in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, the article analyses the transition process as perceived on the part of Hamas, and concludes that Hamas was, at a certain point, receptive to external pressure for moderation as it adapted a range of ‘moderate’ positions in its quest for international recognition. However, when the chain of conciliatory steps undertaken by Hamas failed to ease the international sanctions on the Hamas government, the pressures backfired by weakening the moderate forces in the Hamas leadership and strengthening the radical forces that apparently took the lead when Hamas-affiliated forces took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007. It is argued that the entrance of Hamas into politics represented an opportunity rather than an obstacle for Palestinian democratization, although the opportunity was spoiled by the EU-backed international boycott of the Hamas government.
American University in Cairo Press eBooks, Jan 15, 2017
Acknowledging the prevalent interrelationship between domestic democratization efforts and extern... more Acknowledging the prevalent interrelationship between domestic democratization efforts and external conflict, this chapter discusses the nature of the political transformation process that Hamas has undergone regarding, first, participation in Palestinian national elections and, second, regarding the issue of negotiations and compromise with Israel. Finally, it explores how the massive European and international pressure on Hamas for unconditional concessions toward Israel has affected the internal political dynamics of the movement. The underlying key question is whether the EU's failure to respond positively to the chain of conciliatory steps undertaken by Hamas in effect hampered the transformation process toward political moderation that was set in motion by Hamas' parliamentary participation. In other words, has the confrontational policy of the EU nurtured or quelled the potential for further moderation of Hamas policies?
... It is difficult not to conclude from the experiences of Hourani and Abdel Rahman that their m... more ... It is difficult not to conclude from the experiences of Hourani and Abdel Rahman that their main function in the negotiation team was to ... According to Akram Hanieh, one of Arafat's advisers, the Palestinians opened up for a far-reaching compromise through the explicit distinction ...
... We are fortunate in having a close working relation-ship with Dr. Salim Tamari and Professor ... more ... We are fortunate in having a close working relation-ship with Dr. Salim Tamari and Professor Eliah Zureik. ... Warm thanks go to the Middle East desk at the Foreign Minis-try: Special Coordinator for Middle East Affairs, Ambassador Rolf Trolle Andersen, Minister Counselor Hans ...
Fordrivelse, forfølgelse og okkupasjon. Det er erfaringer flere folkegrupper i Midtøsten og Nord-... more Fordrivelse, forfølgelse og okkupasjon. Det er erfaringer flere folkegrupper i Midtøsten og Nord-Afrika har måttet leve med innenfor dagens statsgrenser. For dem er frihet i egen stat fortsatt en fjern drøm. Kurderne er splittet mellom flere stater, palestinerne og sahrawiene er fordrevet eller okkupert, mens berberne opplever undertrykkelse og diskriminering. Denne bildereportasjen viser noen glimt fra kurdere i Iran og Irak, palestinere i Libanon og Palestina, og berbere og sahrawier i Algerie. Alle bilder: Are Hovdenak
Hamas var inne i en turbulent prosess før og etter valgseieren i 2006. Prosessen bar dem i retnin... more Hamas var inne i en turbulent prosess før og etter valgseieren i 2006. Prosessen bar dem i retning av en mer pragmatisk politikk både på hjemmebane og i forhold til Israel. Snarere enn å hjelpe Hamas gjennom omstillingsperioden, bidro det internasjonale presset og boikotten til en reversering av moderasjonsprosessen.
On 14 June 2007, after five days of heavy fighting, armed forces of the Islamic Resistance Moveme... more On 14 June 2007, after five days of heavy fighting, armed forces of the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas overran the barracks and headquarters of the security forces of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the Gaza Strip. More than three years later, Hamas remains in firm control in Gaza, seemingly self-confident, having survived in power despite a tight Israeli–Egyptian blockade, international sanctions and a major Israeli military assault. Its transformation of PA institutions and handling of the task of providing public services indicate that Hamas has both the ability and the will to rule Gaza on a long-term basis.
This report explores to what extent the phenomenon of al-Qaida has made an impact on the Palestin... more This report explores to what extent the phenomenon of al-Qaida has made an impact on the Palestinian political scene, focusing on the situation in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, where a myriad of small groups claiming adherence to salafi-jihadi ideology has been established during the past few years. Three aspects of the relationship between the Palestinian polity and the global network of al-Qaida are discussed. First, the report reviews the attempts by al-Qaida leaders to influence the Palestinian audience by the means of propaganda transmitted in the media. Second, it investigates indications of operational activities by al-Qaida inspired groups in the Palestinian territories. Third, the report analyses how Hamas has responded to the challenge of al-Qaida and to what extent the ideology of the latter has influenced the policies of Hamas itself.
The analysis is based on media reports, academic literature, and transcripts of messages posted by al-Qaida leaders and their Palestinian supporters on the Internet, as well as field work interviews with Hamas leaders, Palestinian politicians, academics and observers.
This article discusses the nature of the political transformation process that the Islamic Resist... more This article discusses the nature of the political transformation process that the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has undergone over the past decade regarding, first, political participation in Palestinian institutions, and second, the issue of negotiations and compromise with Israel. Finally, it explores how the European and international pressure on Hamas for unconditional concessions towards Israel has affected the internal political dynamics of the movement. Based on fieldwork interviews with Hamas leaders in Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon, the article analyses the transition process as perceived on the part of Hamas, and concludes that Hamas was, at a certain point, receptive to external pressure for moderation as it adapted a range of ‘moderate’ positions in its quest for international recognition. However, when the chain of conciliatory steps undertaken by Hamas failed to ease the international sanctions on the Hamas government, the pressures backfired by weakening the moderate forces in the Hamas leadership and strengthening the radical forces that apparently took the lead when Hamas-affiliated forces took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007. It is argued that the entrance of Hamas into politics represented an opportunity rather than an obstacle for Palestinian democratization, although the opportunity was spoiled by the EU-backed international boycott of the Hamas government.
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Papers by Are Hovdenak
The analysis is based on media reports, academic literature, and transcripts of messages posted by al-Qaida leaders and their Palestinian supporters on the Internet, as well as field work interviews with Hamas leaders, Palestinian politicians, academics and observers.
The analysis is based on media reports, academic literature, and transcripts of messages posted by al-Qaida leaders and their Palestinian supporters on the Internet, as well as field work interviews with Hamas leaders, Palestinian politicians, academics and observers.