Hamas: 'Jews lived peacefully among Muslims for centuries, can again, in accordance with Islamic values.'

(This means: Sure, Jews can live in Hamastan -- as
dhimmis, a subservient population.)

Below, in answer to a question, a Hamas official states that under Hamas rule, Jews would live " in accordance with [Islamic] ethics, religious teachings, and historical values."

To Muslims, the history of non-Muslims living under Islamic rule has been benign, and they characterize Jews as having lived peacefully in Arab and Muslim countries for centuries.

But this view of history doesn't square with what we know, historically, about what "toleration of minorities" -- the acceptance of dhimmi status -- in Arab lands meant. It meant that non-Muslims, (i.e., those who did not wish to convert to Islam) would have to show subservience to Muslims in many everyday respects. Only then would non-Muslims be permitted "to live in peace." Hence, the prospect of Jews living "in accordance with Islamic ethics, religious teachings, and historical values" in a prospective Hamastan isn't that thrilling. //Mark Finkelstein


Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Hamas: 'Jews lived peacefully in Arab countries'

If ever Hamas were to conquer Palestine it seems that what lies in store for their non-Muslim minorities is a dhimmi future, according to this interview with a top Hamas official on Islamonline.net.

By Bataween

DAMASCUS — When IslamOnline.net announced to its audience a scheduled exclusive interview with Dr. Mousa Abu Marzook, a top Hamas leader, it received a flood of questions from its diverse global audience.

One question was put forward by a person who identified himself as an Israeli Jew who wanted to make up his mind about Hamas "independently of the local news sources."

He wanted to know the kind of state Hamas would establish if it ever rises to power in Palestine, and whether it would expel Jews if Israel was dismantled.

"[We will deal with Jews] in accordance with our ethics, religious teachings, and historical values," Abu Marzook, the deputy head of Hamas political bureau, told IOL. He highlighted how Jews lived peacefully for centuries in Muslim and Arab countries. [Without using the term dhimmi]

"Jews lived freely and ran prosperous businesses in Egypt and Baghdad, and the markets of Baghdad are evidences of what the Jews owned."

[comment by bataween: Colour me cynical, but whatever happened to those prosperous businesses and Jewish-owned markets, Abu Marzook? All appropriated by Arab governments without a penny in compensation to their Jewish owners.]
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For information about dhimmitude see Bat Ye'or's article.

Spiegel "discovers" AlQaeda-sect in Gaza

Der Spiegel interviews leader of Al-Qaeda-sect training in Gaza.

"Jihadi leader: For those who don't want to accept the hegemony of Islam, holy war is the only recipe."

Jihadis operating in Gaza By Ulrike Putz in the Gaza Strip [7/18/08] excerpts

Global power is their goal, and they are willing to slaughter innocents to get there. A group of ultra-radical Islamists [sic] are training in the Gaza Strip, and SPIEGEL ONLINE met with one of their leaders.

….Abu Mustafa holds the key to an ideology that many are turning to in the Gaza Strip: Salafist jihadism, a belief in the most radical form of Islam. [Believe me, Hamas is radical enough -- Mark] "We meet secretly in mosques and private homes," says Abu Mustafa, who has become an entry point to the movement for many. He says the Salafis [in Gaza] now number up to 5,000 people, not counting the women and children. ….

Salafis -- sometimes referred to as Wahhabis -- dream of a world before Islam became cluttered with new innovations and cultural influences. They seek to live a pious, god-fearing life governed by [shariah] the laws of [Islamic] religion, a life resembling those of the original Muslims.

At first glance, such a belief system doesn't differ much from that of other utopian sects -- were it not for their ideas related to holy war [jihad]. To make their vision a reality, Abu Mustafa and his men are willing to fight -- and they are willing to slaughter innocent bystanders.

"Look," says Abu Mustafa, whose beard cascades down his chest, "there will be three possibilities".

"Some will find their way to Islam."

"Those who don't want to convert will be able to live in peace under the authority of Islam." [The dhimma pact requires non-Muslims to live as a submissive minority as long as they pay the jizya tax of subjection, as mandated in the Quran, 9:29 -- Mark]

"For those who don't want to accept the hegemony of Islam, however, holy war [jihad] is the only recipe".

"Then we have to fight -- just like our brothers on Sept. 11," Abu Mustafa says.

....
Salafis from the Gaza Strip first stepped into the global spotlight in March 2007, when jihadis from Jaish al-Islam (Army of Islam) kidnapped BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who was based in the Gaza Strip. ….