December 20, 2005

Coming soon: The Hamas Broadcasting Network?

With Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in August and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' continued inability (unwillingness?) to enforce some semblance of law and order, the terrorist group Hamas has unquestionably become the most popular faction operating in the Palestinian territories. So much so that Hamas is expected to win--in the very least--a large number of seats in the upcoming Palestinian Parliamentary elections. That's why the craven, pro-Palestinian European Union is threatening to withhold aid to Abbas, and the vehemently anti-Israel government of Egypt wants to see the elections postponed. Yes, even governments that loathe Israel and cowtow to Palestinian jihadis don't want to see an actual jihadist group in charge in Gaza and the West Bank. In particular, Egypt is none too thrilled with the prospect of Hamas running an Islamic terrorist state just across its border.

Yet the Hamas problem won't be going away anytime soon; in fact, the group is now talking of establishing its own satellite television channel from which it would broadcast anti-Israel, pro-jihad material across the Islamic world. Someone must have forgot to tell them that Al-Jazeera and Hezbollah's Al-Manar station pretty much have that despicable territory covered already. Alas, here's more, from a Hamas English language Web site:

Gaza - Sheikh Ismail Haneyya, a prominent Hamas political leader, has unmasked that the Movement was planning to establish a TV satellite channel and a grievance-bureau following the January parliamentary elections.

Haneyya said, in an interview with Ramattan news agency, that Hamas has been for long mulling establishing a satellite channel; however, he added, many factors, including financial conditions, might constitute a stumbling bloc for attaining such an ambition.

"We have been for long considering such an issue; however, local, regional, and financial circumstances might impede our plan. But, basically, we are contemplating establishing a satellite channel to be able to reach the Palestinian people and the world at large," he noted.

"Hamas is a Movement that coexists with the international community and is open to establishing relations with all countries based on protecting the Palestinian rights and rallying international support for the Palestinians and their rights," he pointed out.

Sadly, there are potential "donors" in every corner of the Islamic world who would give their last falafel to see such a network up and running; so I certainly wouldn't bet against it, especially if Hamas makes major gains in January's elections.

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