RUTHFULLY YOURS

 http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=932

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“Besides both being racist, genocide-preaching, death-glorifying, Holocaust-denying, civilian-shield-using, theocratic, tyrannical, terrorist organizations that wage suicide bombing campaigns to eradicate Israel, dominate the world and humiliate the U.S., Hamas and al-Qaida have almost nothing in common. ”

— Stop comparing Hamas to al-QaidaIn May, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel would not negotiate with Hamas because it is the “Palestinian version of al-Qaida.” This incendiary rhetoric is not only untrue, it polarizes the parties and distances the possibility of peace.British newspaper The Guardian, unlike Netanyahu, knows that “Hamas is not al-Qaida” and that the two groups are “radically different.” One Harvard scholar rightly noted that “assertions about a Hamas-al Qaida alliance are incorrect.” The Christian Science Monitor echoed that “Hamas is a far, far cry from the utopian global fighters of al-Qaida.” Unfortunately, some persist in spreading the myth that Hamas is the “Palestinian version of al-Qaida.” To dispel this untruth once and for all, below is a compilation of just a few of Hamas and al-Qaida’s radically different views.

On territorial compromise:

Hamas: “We do not recognize the state of Israel or its right to hold onto one inch of Palestine.” –Mahmoud al-Zahar, foreign minister

Al-Qaida: “We will not recognize a state for the Jews, not even one inch of the land of Palestine …” –Osama bin Laden

On death:

Hamas: [D]eath for the sake of Allah is [our] most coveted desire.” –Hamas charter

Al-Qaida: “[T]he most honorable death is to be killed in the way of Allah.” –Osama bin Laden

On co-existence:

Hamas: “By God, we will not leave one Jew in Palestine.” –Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi, co-founder

Al-Qaida: “Just as the law of extermination was applied to the infidel forces among the nations in previous days and no one could escape it, so it will be applied to the infidel forces in our day and no one will escape it … the American state, the Jewish state, and all other infidel countries will certainly be destroyed.” –Saif al Din al Ansari, senior leader

On America:

Hamas: “America declared war against God … God declared war against America…” –Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi, co-founder

Al-Qaida: “Every American man is an enemy to us.” –Osama bin Laden

On targeting civilians:

Hamas: “Whoever comes from abroad and lives on the land of Palestine is considered an occupier, even if they are women or old people. They are all occupiers. Besides, don’t forget that they all serve in the army. They are all considered soldiers … There is no difference [between civilians and soldiers].” –Umm Nidal, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council

Al-Qaida: “[T]he ruling to kill the Americans and their allies – civilians and military – is an individual duty for every Muslim who can do it in any country in which it is possible to do it.” –Osama bin Laden

On genocide:

Hamas: “Allah, take the Jews and their allies, Allah, take the Americans and their allies … annihilate them completely and do not leave anyone of them.” –Yussuf al-Sharafi, member of the Palestinian Legislative Council

Al-Qaida: “We [are] promised by the Prophet: Judgment day shall not come until the Muslim fights the Jew, where the Jew will hide behind trees and stones, and the tree and the stone will speak and say, ‘Muslim, behind me is a Jew. Come and kill him.’” –Osama bin Laden

On incitement:

Hamas: “The Jews are the most despicable and contemptible nation to crawl upon the face of the Earth … Allah will kill the Jews in the hell of the world to come, just like they killed the believers in the hell of this world.” – Atallah Abu Al-Subh, former culture minister

Al-Qaida: “Every Muslim, from the moment they realize the distinction in their hearts, hates Americans, hates Jews and hates Christians.” – Osama bin Laden

On democracy:

Hamas: “[T]he Koran [is our] constitution.” –Hamas charter

Al-Qaida: “We have declared a bitter war against the principle of democracy and all those who seek to enact it … [Democracy is] the essence of infidelity and deviation from the true path.” –Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, deceased senior leader

On global domination:

Hamas: “[T]he march of resistance will continue until the Islamic flag is raised, not only over the minarets of Jerusalem, but over the whole universe.”–Mousa Abu Marzouk, senior leader

Al-Qaida: “I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god but Allah, and his prophet Muhammad.” –Osama bin Laden

On Bin Laden’s death:

Hamas: [W]e most certainly condemn the murder of this Arab and Muslim Holy Warrior, may Allah have mercy upon him and may [he] take his rightful place together with the Martyrs and the Righteous.” –Ismail Haniyeh, prime minister

Al-Qaida: [B]in Laden, may God have mercy on him, was killed in a place where truth shines and where sincerity for good deeds and the call for truthfulness exist … Congratulations to the Islamic Nation on the martyrdom of their devoted son Osama.” –Al-Qaida statement

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Besides both being racist, genocide-preaching, death-glorifying, Holocaust-denying, civilian-shield-using, theocratic, tyrannical, terrorist organizations that wage suicide bombing campaigns to eradicate Israel, dominate the world and humiliate the U.S., Hamas and al-Qaida have almost nothing in common.

David Keyes is the executive director of Advancing Human Rights and co-founder of CyberDissidents.org. He can be reached at david.keyes@advancinghumanrights.org.