Hamastan: Difference between revisions
MeteorMaker (talk | contribs) Rm unnecessary expansion. This is not an article on the suffix "-stan". Undue prominence given to al-Zahar interview also removed from lead. |
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[[File:Logo of Hamas.svg|thumb|Logo of Hamas]] |
[[File:Logo of Hamas.svg|thumb|Logo of Hamas]] |
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''Hamastan''' is a |
'''Hamastan''' is a controversial [[neologism]], merging '[[Hamas]]', a [[Palestinian]] militant organization and political party, and '[[-stan]]', a Persian suffix meaning "home of/place of". The 'stan' suffix has been used in a pejorative connotation regarding ''"government-led extortion rackets and gangs in power, mass refugee camps and shadow economies"''<ref>William Safire, [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/magazine/31wwln_safire.t.html?ex=1325221200&en=5aefeff682e72d33&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss Year of the Stans], [[New York Times]], December 31, 2006</ref> but has also been approved of by Hamas co-founder for it's "place of" standard meanning. |
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==Linguistic history== |
==Linguistic history== |
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Revision as of 16:11, 16 February 2009
Hamastan is a controversial neologism, merging 'Hamas', a Palestinian militant organization and political party, and '-stan', a Persian suffix meaning "home of/place of". The 'stan' suffix has been used in a pejorative connotation regarding "government-led extortion rackets and gangs in power, mass refugee camps and shadow economies"[1] but has also been approved of by Hamas co-founder for it's "place of" standard meanning.
Linguistic history
The term emerged during the days of Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005, and is suggestive of Hamas' Islamist ideology and political ties with Iran. Since 2007, the term has been used to refer to its 2007 victory in Gaza over Fatah in the inter-Palestinian conflict.[2]
After Hamas' victory in the Palestinian legislative election of 2006 further heightened Western fears of an emerging Islamic fundamentalist state in the Palestinian territories, and various Israeli politicians, including Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu (on January 26, 2006, at a live IBA broadcast) increasingly employed the term disparagingly in the run up to the Israeli elections to berate Ehud Olmert.[3]
With the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip, the creation of an Islamic mini-state in Gaza has been described by many commentators as "Hamastan" or "Hamas-stan".[4]
Originally, the suffix 'Stan' (land) is from the Persian language, not Arabic, and in general, it is not used in the names of Arab countries.
Hamas response
In an interview conducted by Peraino of Newsweek international with Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar. When asked by a Newsweek reporter (5 September, 2005) "Some Israeli officials warn that after the withdrawal, Gaza will become Hamastan." Mahmoud al-Zahar responded: "It should be Hamastan. Why not? We are not corrupt. We are serving the poorer classes. We are defending our land. It should be Hamastan!"[5][6]
See also
References
- ^ William Safire, Year of the Stans, New York Times, December 31, 2006
- ^ Jpost 26 January 2006 Netanyahu warns of birth of Hamastan Sheera Claire Frenkel
- ^ Zionist Organization of America March 29, 2006 Left-right Split 52-51 Kadima Gets Only 23% of Vote
- ^ Fundamentalists threaten Israel from all sides, The Daily Telegraph, 15/06/2007
- ^ Newsweek International 5 September 2005 The Last Word: Mahmoud Zahar In Praise of "Hamastan"
- ^ The socio-political makeup of “Hamastan” dead link due to site re-construction
External links
- Hamas government program Published March 11, 2006.
- Hamas Covenant The founding principles of Hamas
- Israel grapples with reality of 'Hamastan', Jerusalem Post (January 27, 2006)
- Bibi: Hamastan established before our eyes, Ynet (January 26, 2006)
- Iran Is Building "Hamastan" in Gaza, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Shalom Harari , Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (11 March 2007)