01 May 2011 By Dr. Hamad Al-Majed Has Iran begun to reap the fruits of its support
for Hamas? Some observers believe that the recent
conversion of several Gazans to Shiism represents one
of these fruits. The Al-Arabiya website, citing a
report published by the Arsiran website – which is
affiliated to a number of conservative groups in Iran
– published a story claiming that the Shiite doctrine
is beginning to spread in Gaza and that the number [of
converts] reaches into the hundreds. Abdul Raheem
Hamad, a Gazan convert, also expressed the same point
[in this report]. Anybody familiar with Hamas literature and its
intellectual roots cannot imagine that the group could
be content with the spread of Shiism, let alone that
it would accept "Shiite missionary activity" in the
Gaza Strip, as a trade-off for Iranian support. If
that is the case how is it possible that Hamas was not
aware that the preaching of the Shiite doctrine in the
Gaza Strip would most certainly have been one of the
hidden agendas that the "ideologically-driven" Iranian
government aims to fulfill? Through simple arithmetic the hundreds of
Palestinians who have become Shiite will come to
represent thousands and then tens of thousands and
they will demand a political and sectarian presence.
This converted group will represent a thorn in the
side of the sectarian harmony known by the Palestinian
people. This was emphasized by the "convert" Abdel
Raheem Hamad when he said that Palestinian Shiites
will play a prominent role in running this region in
the future! It is within the rights of the regional states to
be concerned about Hamas-Iranian rapprochement, which
led to the strengthening of Iranian influence in an
ultra-sensitive region and then to Shiite missionary
work. However the pivotal question here is: did Hamas
turn to Iran out of choice? It is well known that
Hamas is not accepted by the key states of the Middle
East even though it surpasses all other Palestinian
organizations in terms of popularity, organization and
military strength, including Fatah. However due to
this lukewarm relationship with Hamas, the Middle
Eastern states refrain from [providing] the
organization with financial support. Consequently,
Iran exploited the opportunity and filled the vacuum
and so Hamas has been suckled by the Iranian breast
until it is able to cover its obligations to its own
members, and the Gaza Strip which it governs, and
there is no solution to this except to wean Hamas from
this Iranian support. But weaning Hamas from Iran requires the provision
of an alternative [to Tehran] and at present we do not
expect to find any alternative. Despite the fact that
Hamas surpasses [other organizations] in terms of
popularity and military strength, the Palestinian
Authority, which is affiliated to the Fatah movement,
continues to be recognized internationally. This takes
us back to square one which is the continuation of
Iranian support [for Hamas], and the continuation of
Iran's political and doctrinal influence [on the Gaza
Strip], unless the regional states take it upon
themselves to deny Iran this opportunity by
establishing and normalizing relations with Hamas and
pushing it towards [normal] political operation by
allowing the organization to obtain its political
share, to be determined by the forthcoming legislative
and presidential elections. Let us go back to the Shiites in the Gaza Strip.
After my last article in which I warned against the
Iranian expansion in Egypt, and after others also
warned against this and against Iran's missionary
activities that resulted in the conversion of hundreds
of Egyptians to Shiism, Shiite intellectuals objected
and asked: is it not Iran's right to "preach" its
ideology and engage in the marketing of ideas and
doctrines? Fundamentally the answer is yes but we said
"no" to Iran because it always plays the tune of
Islamic unity and claims there is no difference
between Sunnis and Shiites, but if that was the case
then there would be no need for allocating large sums
[of money] to missionary activity and "correcting" the
beliefs of the Egyptians and the Palestinians, not to
mention the vile exploitation of Hamas' need by
stabbing the Palestinian people in the back and
shattering their sectarian unity. Comments 💬 التعليقات |