The Palestinian Hamas: Vision, Violence, and Coexistence - Softcover

Mishal, Shaul; Sela, Avraham

Softcover

ISBN 10: 023114007X ISBN 13: 9780231140072

Publisher: Columbia University Press, 2006

Synopsis

In The Palestinian Hamas, Shaul Mishal and Avraham Sela show that, contrary to its violent image, Hamas (the Islamic Resistance Movement) is essentially a social and political organization, providing extensive community services and responding to political realities through bargaining and power brokering. The authors lift the veil on Hamas's strategic decision-making methods at each of the crucial crossroads it has confronted: the Intifada and the struggle with the PLO, the Oslo accords and the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority, and the choice between absolute jihad against Israel and controlled violence. Now with a new introduction, this book does much to contextualize the current ascendancy of this controversial movement.

About this title

About the Author:

Shaul Mishal is professor in the Department of Political Science at Tel Aviv University and director of the Institute for Israeli Arab Studies.

Avraham Sela is professor of Middle Eastern studies in the Department of International Relations and research fellow at the Harry S. Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace, both at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Review:

Clearly the best book on the subject. (David Remnick, editor in chief of the New Yorker)

Two Israeli scholars weigh in with a provocative argument that runs counter to much of the false received wisdom on the subject.... A convincing intervention in the public debate regarding Hamas—a debate that is mainly dominated by the group's demonization. (Rashid Khalidi, author of Palestinian Identity)

This work makes a significant and long overdue contribution to scholarship on Hamas and Islamist groups.... Mishal and Sela have made here an excellent contribution to the field with a thoughtful, analytical, and well-documented case study which goes far in revealing a realist, 'de-demonized' Hamas. (Middle East Journal)

This book does much to contextualize this controversial political movement. (Interaction)

A necessary read. (Sanford R. Silverburg Digest of Middle East Studies)

About this edition

• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 023114007X
• ISBN 13: 9780231140072
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280