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Hamas is more than Palestine's legitimate government. It provides vital social services. They include medical clinics, education, free meals for children, help for orphans, financial and technical assistance for homeless families, aid to refugees, special youth and sports clubs, and more as their resources allow.
The Qassam Brigades are maintained for self-defense. Police help enforce security. Israel and Western societies grossly mischaracterize Hamas.
On October 8, 1997, the State Department designated Hamas and Hezbollah Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Doing so followed Israeli pressure.
Both groups legitimately represent their governments. Hezbollah does in Lebanon.
Neither organization endorses or practices terrorism. America and Israel are its leading exponents. No other countries match their lawlessness. Hamas and Hezbollah respect rule of law principles. Washington and Tel Aviv spurn them.
On April 18, 2008, Hamas co-founder Mahmoud al-Zahar headlined "No Peace without Hamas," saying:
"The US-Israeli alliance has sought to negate the results of the January 2006 elections, when the Palestinian people handed our party a mandate to rule.""Hundreds of independent monitors, (Jimmy) Carter among them, declared this the fairest election ever held in the Arab Middle East."
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