Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., September 18, 2008 Elul 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:51 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Hamas' Christian convert: I've left a society that sanctifies terror
By Avi Issacharoff
Tags: converts, Christians 

A moment before beginning his supper, Masab, son of West Bank Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yousef, glances at the friend who has accompanied him to the restaurant where we met. They whisper a few words and then say grace, thanking God and Jesus for putting food on their plates.

It takes a few seconds to digest this sight: The son of a Hamas MP who is also the most popular figure in that extremist Islamic organization, a young man who assisted his father for years in his political activities, has become a rank-and-file Christian. "I'm now called Joseph," he says at the outset.

Masab knows that he has little hope of returning to visit the Holy Land in this lifetime.
Advertisement
"I know that I'm endangering my life and am even liable to lose my father, but I hope that he'll understand this and that God will give him and my family patience and willingness to open their eyes to Jesus and to Christianity. Maybe one day I'll be able to return to Palestine and to Ramallah with Jesus, in the Kingdom of God."

Nor does he attempt to hide his affection for Israel, or his abhorrence of everything representing the surroundings in which he grew up: the nation, the religion, the organization.

"Send regards to Israel, I miss it. I respect Israel and admire it as a country," he says.

"You Jews should be aware: You will never, but never have peace with Hamas. Islam, as the ideology that guides them, will not allow them to achieve a peace agreement with the Jews. They believe that tradition says that the Prophet Mohammed fought against the Jews and that therefore they must continue to fight them to the death."

Is that the justification for the suicide attacks?

"More than that. An entire society sanctifies death and the suicide terrorists. In Palestinian culture a suicide terrorist becomes a hero, a martyr. Sheikhs tell their students about the 'heroism of the shaheeds.'"

And yet, in spite of the criticism of the place he left, California can't make the longings disappear.

"I miss Ramallah," he says. "People with an open mind. ... I mainly miss my mother, my brothers and sisters, but I know that it will be very difficult for me to return to Ramallah soon."

The continuation of this article will appear in the Haaretz Weekend Magazine

Related articles:
  • Hamas summer camp teaches Gaza kids to hate, kill

  • Despite Gaza truce, Hamas men undergo advanced military training
  • Tensions high in Gaza as Hamas cracks down on rival groups
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Unexpected guest
    Clinton cancels spot at Jewish groups' anti-Iran rally over Palin invite.
    Critique served cold
    Ex-IDF chief Ya'alon says the air force failed in the Second Lebanon War.
      1.   May his siblings have his brains! 04:37  |  Murray the Mongoose 31/07/08
      2.   Religious Intolerance 05:01  |  Suzanne Hamzah 31/07/08
      3.   Wake up Natallie, Clickfool and POP 05:05  |  Gregor 31/07/08
      4.   2 KEY FEATURES DISTINGUISH ISLAM FROM OTHER RELIGIONS 05:29  |  G Marcus 31/07/08
      5.   This is a stint, he will return to Islam. 05:46  |  A friend 31/07/08
      6.   Religious Fanatacism 06:24  |  Adam 31/07/08
      7.   Amazing 06:33  |  Gina 31/07/08
      8.   I am a Christian 06:34  |  Sarah 31/07/08
      9.   Paid off? 06:37  |  Mark Scott 31/07/08
      10.   A Courageous Man 06:55  |  B (The other one) 31/07/08
      11.   Tell China To Send More Bibles 07:15  |  Yosemite 31/07/08
      12.   To G Marcus 07:26  |  Adam 31/07/08
      13.   All of this for Green Card? 07:30  |  Chevroni 31/07/08
      14.   Misguided individual 07:37  |  Hum 31/07/08
      15.   Mazal tov!! 07:38  |  Michael Steiner 31/07/08
      16.   Misguided by his father`s party 07:41  |  Steve the Pals. 31/07/08
      17.   praise God 07:58  |  pastor matt 31/07/08
      18.   In Israel the only measure of a man is his attitude toward Israel 08:20  |  Natallie Durson 31/07/08
      19.   #12 (Adam): Cut the proverbial 08:28  |  Michael Steiner 31/07/08
      20.   to # 1 Murray the Mongoose 08:37  |  Steve the Pals. 31/07/08
      21.   #8 Sara Get your facts straight 08:46  |  cleva treva 31/07/08
      22.   Sara #8 Open up your eyes 08:55  |  cleva treva 31/07/08
      23.   IF HE MISSED RAMALLAH HE SHOULD LIVE IN TEL AVIV 09:18  |  indrajaya 31/07/08
      24.   Jesus Christ - Prince of Peace 09:23  |  lpe 31/07/08
      25.   Sarah, Your Land?! 09:34  |  Zev Davis 31/07/08
      26.   To Hum: I see how truth hurts you. 09:37  |  Lasting peace. 31/07/08
      27.   The "friend" can leave the USA anytime! 09:39  |  Dr. Jack 31/07/08
      28.   COMPULSORY READING FOR WESTERN JOURNALISTS 09:44  |  Prince 31/07/08
      29.   There is only one punishment for a hamas member 09:52  |  Johnny 31/07/08
      30.   This is a stint. What`s in the heart... 09:56  |  Gina 31/07/08
      31.   Adam please inform other Muslims about your knowledge 10:01  |  Dr. Jack 31/07/08
      32.   Not just Hamas: since the PA arrived, 80% of the Christians 10:12  |  Mushma Oule 31/07/08
      33.   Not becessary to convert to any religion let 10:24  |  Jew- and Bookburner 31/07/08
      34.   INTERESTING 10:25  |  soggy liberal 31/07/08
      35.   More Missionaries Needed in Mideast 10:27  |  Observer 31/07/08
      36.   re: #5 This is a stint, he will return to Islam. 10:31  |  Joseph Jibran 31/07/08
      37.   18: Poor Natalie, she thinks we`re like her 10:33  |  David Teich 31/07/08
      38.   Demanding obedience ! 10:39  |  Akram Zekaria 31/07/08
      39.   # 20 to cleva treva re: cute little lies 10:49  |  eric 31/07/08
      40.   re: #8 Sarah if you are indeed a Chrsitian.... 10:54  |  Joseph Jibran 31/07/08
      41.   To Sarah 11:07  |  Victoria 31/07/08
      42.   Indrajaya 11:09  |  Victoria 31/07/08
      43.   Poor Sarah 11:12  |  Maerton 31/07/08
      44.   Has he `seen the light`??? Hmmm... 11:17  |  The Judge 31/07/08
      45.   reply to Injaraya 11:18  |  Maerton 31/07/08
      46.   strange! 11:20  |  herbert 31/07/08
      47.   Indrajaya further remark 11:20  |  Maerton 31/07/08
      48.   # 32 mushma oule re: lies about the christian exodus 11:34  |  eric 31/07/08
      49.   INDRAJAYA Not looking at Indonesia?.Beheading Christians probably 11:36  |  PETER SM 31/07/08
      50.   URSON there are numerous peace pro Arab parties in Israel.In your 11:38  |  PETER SM 31/07/08
      51.   Renunciation 11:41  |  sh 31/07/08
      52.   I like Natallie Durson 11:47  |  Besotted 31/07/08
      53.   A prayer and a word of advise to the convert 11:50  |  Maronite 31/07/08
      54.   To Besotted 12:03  |  Victoria 31/07/08
      55.   To `Maronite` 12:06  |  The Judge 31/07/08
      56.   APOLOGISTS NOTE!! "I`ve left a society that sanctifies terror" 12:06  |  PETER SM 31/07/08
      57.   the TITLE of this story REQUIRES clarification 12:07  |  eric 31/07/08
      58.   Joseph`s Visa ran out..a STUNT ... 12:18  |  ali 31/07/08
      59.   #23 indrajaya 12:18  |  Daniela 31/07/08
      60.   Religion must be a choice..... 12:19  |  The Archives 31/07/08
      61.   A FRIEND Why do Moslems keep coming to the USA if it is SO - 12:23  |  PETER SM 31/07/08
      62.   to the maronite 12:28  |  aline 31/07/08
      63.   It Wasn`t The Terrorism That Freaked Him Out 12:34  |  Yosemite 31/07/08
      64.   Jesus is the way. the light and the truth 12:45  |  Mouhammad 31/07/08
      65.   A RESULT OF BUSH WAR ON "TERROR" 12:48  |  indrajaya 31/07/08
      66.   ERIC.That is exactly what happens.Hamas on"death culture"- 12:55  |  PETER SM 31/07/08
      67.   The Empty Sanitorium Hallways 12:56  |  FOX 31/07/08
      68.   NATALIE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISRAEL LOVER 12:56  |  ANDY 31/07/08
      69.   Trading one Jew hating myth for another. 13:02  |  JMK 31/07/08
      70.   conversion to christianity 13:05  |  Ahmed M Ibrahim 31/07/08
      71.   Yeshua-Jesus is the Messiah and NO other 13:16  |  Yahli 31/07/08
      72.   If he loves&admires israel so much why did he not convert to 13:34  |