6-7-2018 The riddle of Hamas's new Gaza leader: extremist or pragmatist? - Dina Kraft Christian Science Monitor

https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2018/0607/The-riddle-of-Hamas-s-new-Gaza-leader-extremist-or-pragmatist

 

Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas in Gaza and a founder of its military wing, has long been considered a hard-liner. For many, he's a puzzle. Like the Hamas charter, he maintains that Israel must one day be eradicated. But analysts and those who know him say he seems practical enough to realize Israel won't be defeated militarily anytime soon. In 2011 Mr. Sinwar emerged from 22 years in Israeli prison still committed to Hamas and its cause. He was convicted, Israeli officials say, of "terror activities" including the "killing of Palestinian collaborators." Recently, Sinwar threw his support behind the protests along the border with Israel. "He saw a new way of putting pressure on Israel since the armed struggle has become difficult and expensive," says Adnan Abu Amr, a political science professor in Gaza. Visits to the rallies have "earned him more power and popularity." In early May Sinwar spoke to young Gazans bitter about their prospects. "We would rather die as martyrs than die out of oppression and humiliation," he said. "We are ready to die, and tens of thousands will die with us."...

 

Posted by Judith Ferster, AIME member

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