Hamas Contained: The Rise and Pacification of Palestinian Resistance

Baconi, an analyst of Middle Eastern politics at Columbia University, draws extensively on primary sources and interviews with those inside and outside of the Palestinian Muslim anti-occupation organization Hamas in this analysis of the group. He traces the movement’s rise and maturation, particularly following its stunning electoral victory in 2006, which for the first time gave it “a solid foundation from which to... bring its uncompromising vision of Islamic Palestinian nationalism into the heart of Palestinian political institutions.” That victory sparked years of fighting between Hamas and Fatah (part of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, which controls the West Bank), spurred on by an Israel that has played them against each other by “sustain[ing] negotiating tracks... with both parties separately while obstructing any unity between the two.” All this, Baconi argues, has dimmed Palestine’s hopes for self-determination. Baconi’s reporting is meticulous and detail-oriented and his approach judicious and impartial, taking account of Israelis’ dehumanization of Palestinians and thoughtfully handling the question of whether Hamas is a terrorist organization. Though his exhaustive analysis of obscure newsletters and dry communiques may turn off some general readers, this important academic work adds nuance to the portrait of one of the Middle East’s most divisive players. [em](May) [/em]