accepts a two-state solution with the 1967 borders.
I can't find a mention of a two-state solution. Notably, it claims Jerusalem as its capital.
Hamas is still predicated on the idea of an "Islamic state." It's actually kind of eerie reading it, in that it's a mirror image of Zionism.
Okay, I think you really do not understand what the Hamas charter is about.
Hamas is not ISIS, or even close. The Hamas charter envisages Palestine as a single state representing Palestinians. A Palestinian, as far as they are concerned, is any person resident in Palestine prior to 1947 and their descendants, irrespective of religion.
You're pulling a "technically." It's the question of de facto vs. de jure.
I mean, any reading of the charter shows that Islam is being given special treatment.
They most certainly view Palestine as an Islamic state: but an Islamic state in the tradition where those of other religions are free to practice without persecution. Let's remember over 10% of Palestinians are Christian, and overwhelmingly they were accepted for centuries and still are.
Christianity is practically extinct in the ME, and Hamas has done its fair share of persecution.
80% of Christians fled Gaza under Hamas rule. Under the PLO, the Christian population of Bethlehem went from 80% to 15%.
The only region in the ME where Christianity has any notable presence left is Lebanon, and, um, things aren't going well there, to say the least. The only reason it does is because of a power sharing agreement.
Hypothetically, Hamas could not persecute Christians, and hypothetically, could not expel Jews from their state like every other ME country has done, but that's a big "hypothetically."
In the context that Israel is through its constitution explicitly a Jewish state that permits freedom to pursue other religions, one might therefore argue that the main difference between Israel and Hamas' dream of Palestine could be considered simply whether Judiasm or Islam is the state and majority religion.
In a sense, yes. As I commented, the Hamas Charter is an eerie mirror of Zionism, in that it asserts exclusive sovereignty.
However, Hamas's record is clear, as is the record of the ME - minority rights aren't really a thing. That's not to say Israel is a saint, but when everyone's ten feet deep in shit, the person five feet deep in shit is, at the end of the day, less shit.
Human history (and genetic history for that matter) begs to differ.
Israel was founded in 1948 at the start of its campaign of ethnic cleansing that has continued, in fits and starts, until today.
First, none of that contradicts what I said - I've already explained how and why the conflict in its current form dates back to the 19th century. it's a gross misreading of history to say "long ago, the region was at peace, but everything changed when Israel was founded."
Second, if you want to look at the Nakba in isolation, you can, but I can't. I can't ignore the facts that:
a) Just as Palestinians were expelled from Israeli territory, Jews were expelled from Palestinian territory (in a war where the goal was destroying Israel with threats of outright extermination)
b) That after Jordan annexed the West Bank, the cleansing of Jews continued, as well as the wholesale destruction of Jewish architecture
c) That in the aftermath of the war, Jews were similarly expelled from all surrounding countries, and are still being expelled, to the point that Judaism is almost erradicated in the Middle East (Christianity's on a similar path).
Now, none of this exonerates Israel (certainly it's hindered chances of a Palestinian state by allowing settlements in Occupied Palestine), nor are the Palestinians responsible for the sins of the Arab states (including the citizenship refusal issue), but if your stance is "yay Hamas" (which it seems to be, since you've called for them to have even more support than what Iran is providing them with), I'm curious as to what you think a Hamas victory would actually mean (which is the second time I've asked this question, and you haven't responded). In all likelihood, all Jews would be expelled (again), and likely have to flee to Europe (again).
