Hamas and the Peace Process: To What Extent does Hamas Act to Undermine Reconciliation? Yehezkel Shabath This book deals with the background, the factors and the motivations, which caused the establishment of the "Hamas Movement" and the base from which its covenant and its ideology derive. It covers the period from its establishment, on December 1987, until the end of 1997 with emphasis on the period from the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in July 1994, and the main changes that occurred in the position of Hamas activists during the years 1995-1996 as a result of Palestinian Authority consolidation in the autonomous areas that hard below which it inflicted on the civil and military infrastructure of Hamas at that time. It also deals with the development and changes in position of Hamas vis-a-vis the changes occurring during that period in the Peace Process and especially the following points: 1. To what extent did Hamas adjust its policy and positions and implement a pragmatic policy as a result of the failure of its original rigid policy and the progress in the Peace Process in spite of the fact that it predicted that it will fail? 2. To what extent did the Palestinian Authority succeed to 'erode' the 'Hamas Movement' by attracting activists from it and integrating them in jobs? 3. The return of Hamas to terrorism and its collaboration with the Fat/h (al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades) and other Palestinian organizations, in their attacks on Israeli targets, after the eruption of the "al-Aqsa Intifadha" in September 2000. To which extent the relations between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have been changed and/or improved because of this collaboration? 4. The chances that Hamas may participate in the Palestinian government if a Palestinian state will be established. The chapters of the book are divided according to subjects and events which have special significance for Hamas and raised its reaction. The order is chronological […]