english.daralhayat.com 2008/07/20 15:52 GMT

Early Stories About 'Leadership Vacuum'

Yasser Zaatera Al-Hayat 2004/03/24

Sheikh Ahmad Yassin was not just the founder of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for he did not establish a Palestinian resisting faction only, but founded the pillars of a comprehensive Islamic awareness in the Palestinian society. He was not only the spiritual and practical guide of Hamas, but also the man who set the pillars for the Islamic phenomenon in Palestine.

In the 1960s, Sheikh Yassin started his guiding and social action amidst a Palestinian society that was very away of religion practices beside for the old persons and a prevailing Christian spread. The Sheikh started from zero and from the mosque. He was financed by some 'brothers' residing in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.

Sheikh Yassin built his own structure although the treason accusations always followed him. In 1982, he started to establish the movement, however, his actions were discovered and he went to jail for 13 years.

Hence, Yassin evolved from Gaza space to Palestine's one and to the wider Arab and Islamic one when he stood on his wheelchair in the court and the Israeli judge accused him of establishing a movement in order to destroy Israel.

A year and a half later on, Sheikh Yassin went out of jail through a prisoners exchange operation and went back to work. By the end of 1987, Hamas became a resisting faction after it worked all during two decades as a traditional Islamic faction.

Sheikh Yassin entered a new stage armed with young people who were raised on faith and love for resistance. Hamas used their potential energy and founded a new stage.

When Sheikh Yassin went out of jail, Oslo was being applied in Gaza and the armed resistance was deteriorating not because of the arrest of its symbols but in order to avoid more bloody confrontations. This situation remained until Al Aqsa Intifada.

At this stage Gaza leadership was the media and political voice of Hamas. 80% of the military action was focused in the West Bank although Gaza wing was stronger but yet not able to act the way it wanted.

It is obvious that the Sheikh's presence in Hamas was noteworthy. The man was a decision maker and it is not easy to find someone with the same charisma to replace him.

The leadership emptiness was never a problem in Hamas for the movement proved that it was able to create leaders. However, this does not mean that the absence of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin will not be significant.

One can say that many were the blessings of Yassin's martyrdom for he was granted the best end to his long resistance path. His martyrdom will be for Hamas a moral, popular and very special push, in addition, it will sanctify the resistance culture and raise the awareness of the Arab and Islamic world. Sheikh Yassin's martyrdom is a historical symbol in a nation's awareness that desperately needs to learn the culture of challenge and resistance.

* Mr. Zaatera is a Jordanian writer.

<h1>Early Stories About 'Leadership Vacuum'</h1><h4>Yasser Zaatera     Al-Hayat     2004/03/24</h4>Sheikh Ahmad Yassin was not just the founder of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) for he did not establish a Palestinian resisting faction only, but founded the pillars of a comprehensive Islamic awareness in the Palestinian society. He was not only the spiritual and practical guide of Hamas, but also the man who set the pillars for the Islamic phenomenon in Palestine.In the 1960s, Sheikh Yassin started his guiding and social action amidst a Palestinian society that was very away of religion practices beside for the old persons and a prevailing Christian spread. The Sheikh started from zero and from the mosque. He was financed by some 'brothers' residing in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.Sheikh Yassin built his own structure although the treason accusations always followed him. In 1982, he started to establish the movement, however, his actions were discovered and he went to jail for 13 years.Hence, Yassin evolved from Gaza space to Palestine's one and to the wider Arab and Islamic one when he stood on his wheelchair in the court and the Israeli judge accused him of establishing a movement in order to destroy Israel.A year and a half later on, Sheikh Yassin went out of jail through a prisoners exchange operation and went back to work. By the end of 1987, Hamas became a resisting faction after it worked all during two decades as a traditional Islamic faction.Sheikh Yassin entered a new stage armed with young people who were raised on faith and love for resistance. Hamas used their potential energy and founded a new stage.When Sheikh Yassin went out of jail, Oslo was being applied in Gaza and the armed resistance was deteriorating not because of the arrest of its symbols but in order to avoid more bloody confrontations. This situation remained until Al Aqsa Intifada.At this stage Gaza leadership was the media and political voice of Hamas. 80% of the military action was focused in the West Bank although Gaza wing was stronger but yet not able to act the way it wanted.It is obvious that the Sheikh's presence in Hamas was noteworthy. The man was a decision maker and it is not easy to find someone with the same charisma to replace him.The leadership emptiness was never a problem in Hamas for the movement proved that it was able to create leaders. However, this does not mean that the absence of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin will not be significant.One can say that many were the blessings of Yassin's martyrdom for he was granted the best end to his long resistance path. His martyrdom will be for Hamas a moral, popular and very special push, in addition, it will sanctify the resistance culture and raise the awareness of the Arab and Islamic world. Sheikh Yassin's martyrdom is a historical symbol in a nation's awareness that desperately needs to learn the culture of challenge and resistance.* Mr. Zaatera is a Jordanian writer.