----- Original Message ----- From: <nathan at newman.org>
>
> But the reason for Hamas's refusal of any concessions
> is based on its religious views, that all of Palestine
> is consecrated Muslim lands (a mirror of the religious
> nationalists among the Israelis). As for Sharia, this
> is from Hamas's basic Covenant/constitution, written
> back in 1988 (see
> http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/mideast/hamas.htm for
> full text)-- the money line is at the end- "Any
> procedure in contradiction to Islamic Sharia, where
> Palestine is concerned, is null and void."
>
> ********
>
> Strategies of the Islamic Resistance Movement:
> Palestine Is Isalmic aqf:
>
> Article Eleven:
> The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land
> of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future
> Moslem generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part
> of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it,
> should not be given up. Neither a single Arab country
> nor all Arab countries, neither any king or president,
> nor all the kings and presidents, neither any
> organization nor all of them, be they Palestinian or
> Arab, possess the right to do that. Palestine is an
> Islamic Waqf land consecrated for Moslem generations
> until Judgement Day. This being so, who could claim to
> have the right to represent Moslem generations till
> Judgement Day?
>
> This is the law governing the land of Palestine in the
> Islamic Sharia (law) and the same goes for any land the
> Moslems have conquered by force, because during the
> times of (Islamic) conquests, the Moslems consecrated
> these lands to Moslem generations till the Day of
> Judgement.
>
> It happened like this: When the leaders of the Islamic
> armies conquered Syria and Iraq, they sent to the
> Caliph of the Moslems, Umar bin-el-Khatab, asking for
> his advice concerning the conquered land - whether they
> should divide it among the soldiers, or leave it for
> its owners, or what? After consultations and
> discussions between the Caliph of the Moslems, Omar
> bin-el-Khatab and companions of the Prophet, Allah
> bless him and grant him salvation, it was decided that
> the land should be left with its owners who could
> benefit by its fruit. As for the real ownership of the
> land and the land itself, it should be consecrated for
> Moslem generations till Judgement Day. Those who are on
> the land, are there only to benefit from its fruit.
> This Waqf remains as long as earth and heaven remain.
> Any procedure in contradiction to Islamic Sharia, where
> Palestine is concerned, is null and void."
=========================
And just what would killing all the Muslims who hold that the Sharia's declarations on contracts and finance are ethically binding accomplish?
Hitch puts himself on the slippery slope [Carrol, hush :-)] of exterminism on this one. Thus becoming the mirror of that which he despises.
Ian