why hamas is losing, page-5

From BBC News:

The spiritual head of the group is Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, who despite his often fiery rhetoric is seen as the moderate face of the Palestinian Islamists.

The 64-year-old quadriplegic was released from prison in Israel in 1997, as King Hussein of Jordan's price for freeing Israeli Mossad agents after a bungled attempt to assassinate Hamas leader in Jordan, Khaled Meshal.

After his release, he devoted his energies to repairing damage to Hamas' educational and charitable institutions inflicted during the 1996 crackdown against the movement.

Although in theory based in the Palestinian territories, it was long viewed that the former Amman-based leaders were the real brains behind the movement's military arm.

They were allowed to operate in Jordan - where almost half the population is Palestinian - by the late King Hussein, because it gave him leverage over Mr Arafat.

But the group's headquarters was closed down by the king's successor, Abudullah, and senior figures expelled to Qatar.


Israel deliberately promoted Hamas in the 90s as a foil to Arafat, reasoning they would never settle for peace and could be used indefinitely to thwart the peace process. Sneaky little toads those Israelis.