Does anyone know if Hamas was ever associated with Hezbollah?

[kentuck]

Just curious. Because I do recall that Bush and the Israeli government did say after the Palestinian elections that Hamas was unacceptable as leaders of the new Palestinian government, even though they had been "demcoratically elected? Anyone know the history of Hamas and Hezbollah?

[Sam Odom]

1. They are blood cousins

With Iran and Syria as their grandparents

[kentuck]

2. Thanks...

I was just trying to connect the blood lines. (no pun intended)

[serryjw]

6. Can we have a Bar Mitzvah now?

n/t

[cali]

3. Hamas and

H'zbollah have always operated independently from one another. Both are groups that spring from fundamentalist roots. Hamas arose in Palestine, and was partly Israel's creation- they helped fund them. They're responsible for hundreds of deaths due to suicide bombings in Israel. H'zbollah arose in 1982 in response to Israel's invasion and occupation of Lebanon which itself was a response to PA attacks from Lebanon on Israel. The more things change, the more they stay the same. H'zbolla, although it denies it, is widely credited with the bombing of the Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires that killed 95, as well as a bombing in the same city of the Israeli Embassy, and the bombing of the Marine quarters in 1982 in Beirut that killed 240.

[The Magistrate]

4. They Are Seperate Organizations, Sir

Hamas is a Sunni organization, a sort of home-grown version of the old Moslem Brotherhood movement that arose in the thirties of the last century, and is connected to remaining elements of this in Egypt in its initial formation. It is Arab Palestinian, and strongest in the Gaza Strip, though certainly present in the Jordan valley.

Hezbollah is a Shia organization arisen among those of that sect living in the southern portion of Lebanon. It does use some elements of the Moslem Brotherhood template in its organization as a "whole life" reform and militant body, but does not strictly speaking derive from it. Its relations with Arab Palestinians in Lebanon, oddly enough, are often pretty badly strained.

There is a presumption of hostility nowadays between Sunni and Shia elements, but they have been known to work together and co-exist without mich difficulty. Hezbollah, having had some success in opposing Israel in Lebanon, has certainly made overtures to Hamas, and there are allegations of exchanges between the two for training and tactics. It is not impossible there has been some co-ordination between them in the recent events, but it is not necessary that there have been for events to have followed the pattern that they have. People independently looking out for their own advantage from different points can sometimes seem to be acting in excellent co-ordination without ever having communicated.

[papau]

7. Excellent summary :-)

:-)

[kentuck]

8. As always...

The Magistrate has useful information, whether you agree with him or not. :)

[catmother]

5. so bush wants democracy in the mideast, but when a group

that he opposes wins in a democratic election he wants no part of them. this is not democracy.:eyes: