Last updated on: 9/21/2015 | Author: ProCon.org

Ismail Haniya Biography

Title:
Hamas Party Leader, selected as Palestinian Prime Minister (disputed)
Position:
Pro to the question "Is a Two-State Solution (Israel and Palestine) an Acceptable Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?"
Reasoning:

“If Israel withdraws to the ’67 borders, then we will establish a peace in stages…Number one, we will establish a situation of stability and calm which will bring safety for our people -- what (Hamas founder) Sheikh (Ahmed) Yassin called a long-term hudna (truce)…If Israel declares that it will give the Palestinian people a state and give them back all their rights, then we are ready to recognise them.”

Ismail Haniya in the The Washington Post, Feb. 26, 2006
Theoretical Expertise Ranking:
    Experts
Individuals with PhDs or equivalent advanced degrees in fields relevant to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Also top-level government officials (such as foreign leaders, US presidents, Founding Fathers, Supreme Court Justices, members of legislative bodies, cabinet members, military leaders, etc.) with positions relevant to Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Involvement and Affiliations:
  • Hamas government was disbanded by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after Hamas’s June 2006 violent takeover of Gaza
  • Hamas formally nominates Haniya for Palestinian Prime Minister after victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council, 2006
  • Nominated as Palestinian Prime Minister, Feb. 2006
  • Selected to head the Hamas party in the Palestinian elections, Dec. 2005
  • After Sheikh Yassin’s assasination, Haniya assumes a top leadership role in Hamas, 2004
  • Assistant to Sheikh Ahmad Yassin (Hamas’ spiritual leader), 1997
  • Appointed Dean of the Islamic University, 1993
  • Deported to southern Lebanon along with 400 other Hamas activists, 1992
  • Jailed by Israeli government for role in the first intifada (uprising), 1989-1992
  • Joined the Islamic Student Bloc (precursor to Hamas) at the Islamic University of Gaza, 1983
Education:
  • BA, Arabic Literature, Islamic University of Gaza, 1987
Other:
  • None found
Quoted in:
  1. Is a Two-State Solution (Israel and Palestine) an Acceptable Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?