MODERATION IS SELF-INTEREST:

Gaza's New Rulers Seek to Win Over the West: Having gained control of the Gaza Strip, Hamas is now trying to polish its image. Seen by many as Islamist terrorists, the group wants to win over the West with law and order. (Christoph Schult, 7/09/07, Der Spiegel)

Hamas is clearly taking steps to restore order to the Gaza Strip -- and broadcasting its efforts to the public in Gaza, Israel and the West. After facing worldwide criticism for their brutal power grab in the region, the Islamists are now intent on demonstrating that they speak more than just the language of violence. Indeed, they have little choice in the matter. Economic recovery is unlikely as long as Western aid money pours into the Fatah-ruled West Bank, where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has established a relatively moderate emergency government. [...]

Hamas' recent statements are at odds with its fundamentalist reputation. There should be freedom of the press and freedom of opinion in Gaza, says Ahmed Yussuf. He insists that a woman's choice to wear a headscarf should be purely "her personal decision." Instead of Saudi Arabia or Iran, Yussuf cites Turkey as a model. "We are not the Taliban," he claims, "we are like (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdogan."

As promising as this sounds, it contradicts much of the rhetoric coming from other Hamas leaders in recent weeks. Prominent hardliner Mahmoud al-Sahar says Hamas intends to introduce Shariah law in Gaza. "There are different schools of thought here," Ahmed Yussuf admits, although he is quick to add that the moderates are gaining in influence within Hamas.

If what he claims is true, Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been held hostage by Hamas for more than a year now, should finally be released. Yussuf admits that the government has been locked out of negotiations with the Israelis aimed at brokering a deal. "This is purely the fault of the military wing of Hamas," he says. All hopes now rest with the Egyptians, who withdrew their envoys from the Gaza Strip after the Islamist takeover. "It is in our interest," says Yussuf, adopting a statesmanlike tone, "to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible."