Khaled Meshal
Damascus, Syria
Head of the Hamas politburo
__________________________________________________________________Ben Dickens_5/2/12_______
Biography:
I was born in 1956 within the small village of Silwad, but my dreams are much larger. My family and I
quickly moved to Kuwait, which fell under Israeli oppression in 1967. Luckily, I found the Muslim Brother in
grade school, and they took me under their wing in 1971. I majored in Physics at Kuwait University and
subsequently taught many courses in the field, but I couldn’t refuse my true calling. In 1987, Hamas was born,
and I knew it would be a vital outlet for my activism. I rose through the ranks, only to be nearly assassinated by
Israeli agents. The international community urged Israel to provide an antidote, and my survival only cultivated
my resolve. I am now exiled to Syria, so I am not the Prime Minister of Hamas. Don’t let that fool you; ever
since 2004, I have been the one in control.
Overview of issues:
1) Territory: The borders established prior to 1967 must be reinstated for peace to ensue (“Khaled”).
2) Refugees and settlers: The Palestinian right of return is an inalienable right, and must be granted to
all displaced Palestinian refugees (Pipes).
3) Compromise and Statehood: No compromise for peace can ever be made that will cause Israel to be
recognized in the eyes of Palestine. Furthermore, the violence will not cease until a sufficient agreement
is reached (“A Nervous Hamas”).
Position on remaining issues in peace talks:
The oppression against Palestine has gone on for far too long, without any concessions made to the
Palestinian populace which fights so hard for its rights. Our lands were taken from us in 1948, but at least we
were allotted a share of property to call our own. The Six Day War, however, gave the Jews an excuse to take
our allotted land away from us. This is unacceptable, which is why “Hamas [is]… seeking territory occupied by
Israel in 1967” (Kaplan). Moreover, Israelis continue to exploit our right to possess our lands by settling in it.
“There is only one enemy in the region, and that is Israel” (“Khaled”). Hamas is absolutely “ready to negotiate a
just peace” (“Khaled”), but under no circumstance will we “up an inch of Palestine or recognize[e] Israel” (“A
Nervous Hamas”). The fate of Jerusalem, on the other hand, will not be decided through diplomacy, but
“Jihad... and resistance” (“Hamas”).
Proposal:
I strongly propose lasting peace, a substantial ceasefire, granted that our conditions are met (“Khaled”).
First, all borders defined prior to the Six Day War will be reestablished and all Israeli settlers will be removed
from Palestinian territory (“Khaled”). Second, all displaced Palestinians will be granted right of return, the
ability to live freely in the Jewish-occupied zones (Pipes). Third, Israeli officials will not attempt to warp the
deal. Israel is not a state, never will be, and will never be allowed to sneakily acquire more land without our
consent (“A Nervous Hamas”).
Works Cited
“Hamas: War will settle Jerusalem dispute, not talks.” Haaretz. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 1 May 2012. <http://www.haaretz.com/news/hamaswar-will-settle-jerusalem-dispute-not-talks-1.5472>.
Kaplan, Eben. “Profile of Khaled Meshal.” Council on Foreign
Relations. CFR, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.cfr.org/terrorist-leaders/profile-khaled-meshal-akakhalid-meshaal-khaleed-mashal/p11111>.
“Khaled Meshal.” The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012.
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/m/kha
led_meshal/index.html>.
“A Nervous Hamas Voices Its Issues With a Palestinian Bid for U.N.
Membership.” The New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 May 2012.
<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/19/world/middleeast/hamasvoices-issues-with-palestinian-bid-for-united-nationsmembership.html>.
Pipes, Daniel. "Ending the Palestinian 'Right of Return' - Daniel Pipes National Review Online." NRO. Web. 02 May 2012.
<http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/288231/endingpalestinian-right-return-daniel-pipes>.
“Profile: Khaled Meshaal of Hamas.” BBC News. The British
Broadcasting Corporation, n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3563635.stm>.
“Who are Hamas?” BBC News. The British Broadcasting Corporation,
n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2012.
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1654510.stm>.