Hamas's decision to take part in the Palestinian election in July could be the beginning of a major switch that takes the Islamist group from
a resistance movement to political faction, analysts said.
Saturday's announcement that it would take part in the legislative election ends a long-standing boycott of mainstream political life by the militant movement.Imad al-Faluji, Palestinian MP and a former Hamas leader, welcomed the decision as a "sign of a serious change in Hamas's ideology and shows that the movement is aware that a new chapter of political life is beginning".
"Hamas's decision is a good one even if it comes late in the game, but the movement now has to adopt a language and a political programme that is in line with the parliamentary institution," Faluji said.The decision by the vehemently anti-Israeli group comes amid efforts to keep a lid on violence in what is being hailed as a new era following the election of Mahmud Abbas as Palestinian leader.Hamas said its decision followed "comprehensive consultations" with all branches both inside and outside the occupied territories.
Abbas has welcomed the announcement as "a positive step that contributes to the participation of all Palestinians in political life".Deputy Prime Minister Nabil Shaath said the move was "encouraging" and would "give the movement the possibility to be integrated in the democratic game".Hamas boycotted the first legislative elections in the Palestinian territories in 1996 and refused to field a candidate for the Presidential election in January, which saw Abbas chosen to succeed the late Yasser Arafat.
However, it took part in recent local elections in the occupied territories, and scored a landslide victory in its Gaza Strip stronghold in January, easily beating the dominant Fatah faction of Abbas.Hamas does not recognise the state of Israel and wants to see the creation of an Islamic state from the Mediterranean Sea to Jordan -- across all land that was Palestine under the British mandate.
The Islamic Resistance Movement was founded in 1987 during the first intifada, or uprising, against Israeli occupation and is the largest Islamist group in the Palestinian territories. The group is fiercely opposed to the 1993 Oslo peace accords that brought partial autonomy to the Palestinian territories. Its armed wing -- the Ezzedin al-Qassam Brigades -- has been responsible for most of the suicide attacks carried out against Israeli targets during the latest intifada.
Israel has voiced caution about Hamas's decision.
"The participation of Hamas in the legislative elections does not constitute a guarantee that this organisation will renounce terrorism," an official said on Saturday on condition of anonymity.The movement's popularity has grown rapidly since the start of the latest intifada, to the detriment of Fatah.Its stronghold is in the poverty-stricken Gaza Strip, where it is known for its charitable and educational work among the people.
"Hamas has proven that it is capable of responding to change and it has examined the current situation very closely," said Bassem al-Zubeidi, an academic who specializes in Islamist movements."Hamas has gained a lot from its special ties with all the (Palestinian) movements, including Fatah, during the intifada years. It will have a lot of influence in the Palestinian political system," he said."Hamas does not want to be qualified as extremist or radical, which is why it decided to resort to taking part in the election, in order to contain (international) pressure" on the movement, he added.
Hamas is on Washington's blacklist of terrorist organisations.