ABSTRACT
The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Harakat al-Muqawama alIslamiyya), known by its acronym Hamas, is a clear case of ideological fanaticism as far as its perception of the Middle Eastern conflict, demonisation of the enemy, its aspired end-goal and the means to achieve it are concerned. These are manifested in its commitment and advocacy totally to destroy the state of Israel by armed struggle and in the eschatological significance it gives to the eventual extermination of the Jews in addition to the glorification of martyrdom among its own fighters. Concurrently, due to political and military constraints under which it operates, Hamas is occasionally obliged to follow a somewhat more pragmatic policy, while making it clear that these tactical considerations by no mean undermine its maximalist strategic goals.
