# Does Hamas really have any idea what they are doing in running a government? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 17, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014 "2006-04-17T15:50:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/1 "2006-04-17T15:50:57Z")
I ask because of this statement quoted below. It seems to defy the notion that Hamas has any intention of "behaving’ now that it’s in power. Can a municipal government with this attitude continue to exist side by side with Israel? > [@](#): > > Tel Aviv bombing is part of self-defense: Hamas > Mon Apr 17 2006 08:26:46 ET > > Sami Abu Zuhri, a spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said on Monday that the [Tel Aviv attack was part of the Palestinians’ right of self-defense.](http://english.people.com.cn/200604/17/eng20060417_259024.html) > “Resisting Israeli aggression was rightful as long as it continues,” Abu Zuhri said. > > “The occupation seized money of the Palestinian people and urged the world not to assist the Palestinians, so this attack took place before those who agree with this aggressive attitude,” he said. > > At least six Israelis were killed and 30 others wounded, with some in serious condition, as a Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up near an old bus station in the center of Tel Aviv. > > Abu Zuhri was echoed by Wasfi Kabha, minister of Prisoners’ Affairs in the Hamas-led cabinet. > > Kabha told reporters that the attack came “in the framework of legitimate right for resistance against Israeli violations and crimes.” > > Coincidently, Monday was Palestinian prisoners’ day. Palestinian officials said there were more than 8,000 Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jails, detention camps and prisons. > > The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, linked to the Fatah movement, claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing attack. > > A spokesman for Saraya al-Quds, the Islamic Jihad armed wing, told reporters on telephone that his group is responsible for the bombing attack in Tel Aviv. > > The spokesman said that the attack was “natural response to daily crimes carried out by the Zionists against our people.” ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/2 "2006-04-17T15:56:05Z")
Of course Hamas doesn’t know what they’re doing in running a government, because they’ve never done it before. Either they’ll learn the nuts and bolts, or they’ll get turned out next election. But that has nothing to do with this. That statement is just a matter of Hamas being Hamas, and it’s not going to change even if they become the most efficient, proficient set of civil servants in the world. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/3 "2006-04-17T16:06:14Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Of course Hamas doesn’t know what they’re doing in running a government, because they’ve never done it before. Either they’ll learn the nuts and bolts, or they’ll get turned out next election. But that has nothing to do with this. That statement is just a matter of Hamas being Hamas, and it’s not going to change even if they become the most efficient, proficient set of civil servants in the world. [/QUOTE] Israel uses Hamas members as target practice when they are attacked like that. What has changed is the fact that Israel may decide to start weeding out the PA government. It is not like they can hide too well. Also, if Hamas sets the government policy as tit-for-tat like they have been whenever something like this happens then the Palestinians, and to a lesser extent Israelis, will be in for a world of hurt unless/until the UN or someone steps in to restore order. Not getting tax money will be the least of their problems. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/4 "2006-04-17T16:23:44Z")
[QUOTE=BrainGlutton] Of course Hamas doesn’t know what they’re doing in running a government, because they’ve never done it before. [/QUOTE] I don’t believe that’s true. I believe that Hamas has been in power in several local governments in the territories, up to some fairly significant cities. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/5 "2006-04-17T21:13:04Z")
> [@](#): > > Does Hamas really have any idea what they are doing in running a government? No. If they can’t make something go BOOM, they are clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/6 "2006-04-17T22:06:54Z")
[QUOTE=Clothahump] No. If they can’t make something go BOOM, they are clueless. [/QUOTE] Holy irony, Batman!!! -Joe!!! ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/7 "2006-04-17T22:39:13Z")
Hamas indeed has plenty of nuts&bolts experience in delivering many of the social services one usually expects governments to help provide. A big part of the reason they got elected was because they were already serving many communities better than the PA, and had been for some time. Diplomacy sure isn’t their strong suit, though. Slaughtering Jews appears to be the only form of engagement with Israel they feel is legitimate, and so long as they adhere to that program, they will fail utterly, regardless of their legitimately good works. Being self-destructive from the word go strikes me as epitomizing “poor governance”. ---
**Author:** ![Alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/8 "2006-04-17T22:55:05Z")
By “behave” I gather you mean “no bombs”. Like it or not, this has been an element of asymmetric warfare in many conflicts throughout history. Except the suicide part, which is relatively new in historical terms. Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the recent attack by the way. Hamas won local races, particularly in Gaza, before they won the general election. They have also been running schools and social services on their own even before that, so I think they will do well in government - to the extent Palestinians are allowed to self-govern. The question is rather if Hamas will seek a way of confrontation or diplomacy in the months and years ahead. ---
**Author:** ![ZeroZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f04885/32.png) [@ZeroZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroZero)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/9 "2006-04-17T23:36:28Z")
The thing to remember giving social service is not humanitarian for Hamas. They are simply trying to win over the locals. Now that they are in power they have no incentive to continue to do so. Hamas is not democratic and doesn’t have to be. Sure they run schools but what are they teaching. Look at Afghanistan. Women are STILL not getting educated and have to sneak classroom education. For many schoold mean reading the Koran till you can recite it by heart. That is pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![ZeroZero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/f04885/32.png) [@ZeroZero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeroZero)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/10 "2006-04-17T23:55:12Z")
The thing to remember giving social service is not humanitarian for Hamas. They are simply trying to win over the locals. Now that they are in power they have no incentive to continue to do so. Hamas is not democratic and doesn’t have to be. Sure they run schools but what are they teaching. Look at Afghanistan. Women are STILL not getting educated and have to sneak classroom education. For many schoold mean reading the Koran till you can recite it by heart. That is pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/11 "2006-04-18T00:09:14Z")
[QUOTE=ZeroZero] The thing to remember giving social service is not humanitarian for Hamas. They are simply trying to win over the locals. Now that they are in power they have no incentive to continue to do so. [/QUOTE] Of course they have an incentive. There’s always a next election. ---
**Author:** ![Alien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/57b2e6/32.png) [@Alien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alien)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-hamas-really-have-any-idea-what-they-are-doing-in-running-a-government/353014/12 "2006-04-18T00:39:47Z")
[QUOTE=ZeroZero] The thing to remember giving social service is not humanitarian for Hamas. They are simply trying to win over the locals. Now that they are in power they have no incentive to continue to do so. Hamas is not democratic and doesn’t have to be. Sure they run schools but what are they teaching. Look at Afghanistan. Women are STILL not getting educated and have to sneak classroom education. For many schoold mean reading the Koran till you can recite it by heart. That is pretty much it. [/QUOTE] True and not true. Running social services are not uncommon in the Islamic world, on the premise of Islam, naturally. The schools, oh well, at least girls are allowed if I’m not mistaken. Only time will tell if Hamas will accept the path of democracy now that they have participated in and won a democratic election. And it’s not given that those now running Hamas are as unforgiving as those formers taken care of by Israel, despite what the OP quoted.