I find the flag issue very interesting. During the elections they used the Palestinian flag extensively together with the green flags but already one could feel uneasiness.
But I think Hamas bring no new thinking or a rigorous alternative to secular Palestinian nationalism. They are just copying: their tactics, their aesthetics - from Iraq, but no less from the Israeli military.
Hamas has been developing alternative symbols for a long time. Their green flag is one of these symbols. Their taking down the Palestinian flag and raising their green one has offended many people who are not actually flag wavers themselves.
One of the most offensive gestures was stripping Fateh fighters and making them march with their arms raised over their heads. That was a nightmarish repetition of what the Israeli army did when they stormed the Jericho prison last year. The Israeli army as model!!! (something that afflected Fateh too. A psychological reading of this identification of the oppressor is really important).
Yes I was referring to the stripping incidents. And was also thinking of an Amira Hass article two years ago how Hamas unifroms strangely resemble Israeli ones. Also their checkpoint techniques now sound similar.
But regarding the Palestinian flag issue: do you think most Hamas supporters are alienated from it? And that they would rather do without it? (and, by implication, would give up most of the legacy of the Palestinian national movement)
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I find the flag issue very interesting. During the elections they used the Palestinian flag extensively together with the green flags but already one could feel uneasiness.
But I think Hamas bring no new thinking or a rigorous alternative to secular Palestinian nationalism. They are just copying: their tactics, their aesthetics - from Iraq, but no less from the Israeli military.
Mink,
Hamas has been developing alternative symbols for a long time. Their green flag is one of these symbols. Their taking down the Palestinian flag and raising their green one has offended many people who are not actually flag wavers themselves.
One of the most offensive gestures was stripping Fateh fighters and making them march with their arms raised over their heads. That was a nightmarish repetition of what the Israeli army did when they stormed the Jericho prison last year. The Israeli army as model!!! (something that afflected Fateh too. A psychological reading of this identification of the oppressor is really important).
Yes I was referring to the stripping incidents. And was also thinking of an Amira Hass article two years ago how Hamas unifroms strangely resemble Israeli ones. Also their checkpoint techniques now sound similar.
But regarding the Palestinian flag issue: do you think most Hamas supporters are alienated from it? And that they would rather do without it? (and, by implication, would give up most of the legacy of the Palestinian national movement)
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