Pediatrician turned Hamas leader

Abdelaziz al-Rantissi 1947-2004

Pediatrician turned Hamas leader

By Maurice Ostroff

April 18, 2004 marked the death by assassination of Abdel Rantisi less than one month after the death of his predecessor Sheik Yassin

The HAMAS organization they founded, is however, still very much alive. Hamas,.an acronym in Arabic for "Islamic Resistance Movement is essentially a terror movement, using politics and social welfare as a cover. To thousands living in poverty in the West Bank and Gaza, it is the provider of schooling, food and blankets. This legitimacy enables Hamas to work openly through mosques and social service institutions to recruit members, raise money, and distribute inciteful hate propaganda. But the goal remains the violent destruction of Israel as a prelude to IMPOSING worldwide Islamic religious rule.

UN Secretary General Kofi Anan's description of the deaths of Yassin and Rantisi as political assassinations, inferring that they were non-combatant politicians is plainly inaccurate. They were active commanders of a terror organization which openly declared its intention to destroy Israel. Rantisi and Yassin are on record as saying that Arab recognition of "what is known as the State of Israel" is not acceptable It was well known that both Yassin and Rantisi were active in generating suicide operations. In the NY Times (April 4, 2003) Joel Brinkley reported that Hamas leaders told him proudly that they were using weapons-grade explosives. Dr. Rantisi removed every vestige of doubt about a distinction between the political and military wing of Hamas. He told Brinkley that he generated attacks by making public statements that are heeded by his followers. How ironic, that Rantisi, a pediatrician whose task was to care for children, not only sent Palestinian youngsters to their deaths on suicide missions causing indiscriminate killing and maiming of babies as well as adults, he even encouraged the use of Palestinian children to carry suicide bombs. During the interview, aides twice brought urgent news to Yassin, who issued clear, direct operational orders. Hamas has proudly and publicly claimed responsibility for many of the worst terror attacks and it was the Hamas inspired cruel suicide bombings which triggered the Israeli incursions into PA controlled territory.

Rantisi's leadership of Hamas was not undisputed. Khaled Meshal announced early from Damascus that he was in charge and on Rantisi's demise Meshal announced that the identity of Rantisi's replacement should be kept secret. It is believed however that the successor will be Mahmoud A-Zahar, who also refuses to accept the existence of the state of Israel. On May 22, 2003, he told BBC's Tim Sebastian, "I'm telling you frankly, the attitude of Islam is not to accept a foreign state in this area."

Kofi Anan's advice to Israel to negotiate with Hamas is just plainly impossible because of article 13 of the Hamas covenant which unambiguously states "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors.".

Hamas and the PLO do not see eye to eye in all matters. In fact Rantisi was jailed by Arafat's PA more than once. Hamas for its part, regards the PLO as insufficiently dedicated to Islam. Article 27 of the Hamas covenant spells it out. "The day The Palestinian Liberation Organization adopts Islam as its way of life, we will become its soldiers, and fuel for its fire that will burn the enemies.."

The immediate goal of Hamas, the violent destruction of Israel is only a first step towards the ultimate goal, defined in its covenant, of imposing Islamic rule on all infidels world wide, by means of Jihad, i.e. a religious war against all infidels. It is not widely realized that Jihad is not directed only against Jews, but against all infidels. An infidel or kafir, according to the Koran refers to an unbeliever or an idolater, that is a person who does not believe specifically in the revelations of God to the Prophet Mohamed. Jews, Christians, Budhists and other non Muslims are all regarded as infidels.

The irrationality of Hamas' fundamental tenets is exemplified in the wildly false allegations contained in its covenant; allegations which would be amusing if they were not so dangerous. Freemasons, rotary clubs, Lions and similar organizations are accused of everything from control of world media, stirring the French and Communist revolutions, causing World Wars I and 2, and even forming the League of Nations and then replacing it by the UN and Security Council. The covenant also contains the ominous threat ". The day Islam is in control of guiding the affairs of life, these organizations, hostile to humanity and Islam, will be obliterated."

Information about the Hamas covenant and the implications of Jihad are not widely known because they are published in Arabic. However thanks to the internet, English translations containing important information for truth seekers have become available and can be of great value to politicians and journalists who comment on the Middle East. An English translation of the Hamas covenant is available at http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/mideast/hamas.htm and an analysis of the meaning of Jihad is available in a publication entitled "Is Jihad an 'Internal Struggle?", by Dr Vinod Kumar on .http://www.bharatvani.org/vinod_kumar/asghar.htm

According to Dr Kumar, jihad must be waged against all infidels i.e. Jews, Christians, Budhists and all other non Muslims. The Koran he writes, is specific in instructing true Muslims in how to deal with us "infidels".

"When the sacred months are over, slay the idolaters wherever you find them.... (9:5). Naturally if they accept Islam and take to prayers; then there is no need to take any further action."