The Relationship's Dilemma Between Fateh And Hamas, And Its Impact Upon The Process Of Democratic Transformation In Palestine (2004 – 2010)

The problematic relationship between Fatah and Hamas organizations has a significant impact on the political system and the democratic transformation in Palestine. The features of this influence started to appear after having conducted the presidential, legislative and municipal elections recently, the participating of most of the Palestinian factions in the elections as well as the consequences of the elections results such as Hamas victory in the legislative elections, reaching the Fatah-Hamas political dispute at a critical stage, and the armed clash and using the military power by Hamas to take over the Gaza Strip. All this shows the need to discuss this situation after continuing for more than three years without coming up with an end for it. This current situation puts the political and democratic process in Palestine at a critical stage for the first time in Palestine’s history and reaching at the point of the political and geographical rip.. Thus, this study is discussing the problematic relationship between Fatah and Hamas and its impact on the democratic transformation in Palestine in order to design visions through discussing its historical backgrounds as well as knowing the nature of this dominated relationship between the two parties especially in the last period, and knowing the influence of this relationship on the democratic process, the democratic transformation, and the future of the Palestinian political system, taking in consideration that the elections, political participation and pluralism are part of the essential pillars which democracy focuses on. Moreover, the peaceful transfer of power is considered as a basis for democracy. This study is also discussing its fundamental hypothesis which is bonded together. The first hypothesis says that nature of the current relationship between Fatah and Hamas is a struggling and competitive bond more than a cooperation and integration one which is in turn affects the democratic transformation and the national rehabilitation. Another sub-hypothesis says that the democratic transformation in Palestine is being affected by the kind of the relationship between Fatah and Hamas whether positively or negatively. The last hypothesis which is related to what have been mentioned above says that the current conflict between Fatah and Hamas is an obstacle in front of the democratic transformation in Palestine. The researcher is using the descriptive analytical approach in this study as it is based on the accurate and detailed description of the phenomenon. Therefore, this approach shows the highlights which have influence this study. The study is arguing the problematic relationship between Fatah and Hamas and its impact on the democratic transformation in Palestine from the year of 2004 till the year of 2010. It is covering the Occupied Palestinian Territories 1967, (the West Bank and the Gaza Strip). This is because of the importance of this period and the changes and developments that have a huge influence on the Palestinian stage and the political life. The study is divided into four chapters in which the first chapter is discussing some important concepts and terms which have a direct link to the study subject. We are trying to recognize the concept of the democratic transformation, political participation, political development, political parties, pluralism, the importance of the elections and the debatable relationship between democracy and development. The second chapter is explaining the process of the democratic transformation in Palestine starting from the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and ending with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) by reviewing the stages of development which the democracy has gone through in Palestine. In the end of this chapter, the study is arguing the pillars and conditions of democracy, challenges and the obstacles that are ahead the democratic transformation in Palestine. In the third chapter, the study is discussing the problematic relationship between Hamas and Fatah through reviewing the principles, goals, and the intellectual premises for the two parties and their point of views in managing struggle with the Israeli occupation through the history and the establishing each of them in order to let the reader learns about the stages of establishing each of which. The study is explaining the nature of the relationship between the two parties through their struggling history, coordination and cooperation stages, competition and dispute, and the stage of conflict, internal fighting and the current split. In the fourth chapter, the study is discussing the reflection and the consequences of the relationship between Fatah and Hamas at the moral, social, economical and the political life and the national plan. It is also talking about the active institutions in the political system (the legislative council, the executive authority and judiciary and their role in developing the political side through their relationahip. This comes along with the third hypothesis and supports its validity which says that the current conflict between Fatah and Hamas is an obstacle ahead the democratic transformation by disputing over powers and the split which has blocked the Palestinian political life and blocked the role of the three authorities. The researcher summed up through the conclusions of the study that the dispute between Fatah and Hamas is not recent, but it is referred to the establishment of the two parties. The differences in programs, The growing of the dispute is referred to several external and internal reasons; especially the Israeli occupation and its practices. Additionally, Arab and international parties have contributed in increasing the tension between the two groups at a high level. Hamas’ military taking over on the Gaza Strip and the executing measures in the West Bank have a negative influence on the democratic transformation in Palestine. It also causes disabling the role of the legislative institution, the political split, and forming two governments (in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank). The judiciary has been influenced by this rip. This means that the political system is depending on decisions made by these two parties as they are the largest active and influencing groups on the Palestinian stage as well as no one of which has the inability to override the other because of their history and the fan base. They, therefore, should agree on a comprehensive national program, adopting the democratic choice and believing in pluralism, political participation and the peaceful transfer of power. This in turn leads to the security and political stability and developing the Palestinian community.