Founder of Hamas concludes a successful tour

The founder and spiritual mentor of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement has concluded a triumphal tour of Muslim and Arab …

The founder and spiritual mentor of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement has concluded a triumphal tour of Muslim and Arab states, disconcerting both Israel and the Palestine Authority.

Sheikh Ahmad Yassin (61), who is quadriplegic and almost blind, began his journey two months ago in Saudi Arabia, where he received medical treatment and performed the Muslim pilgrimage.

He visited the Gulf emirates, Iran and Pakistan, Iraq and Syria where he was received like an equal by heads of state. He stayed in Sudan before travelling to Egypt.

The cleric will remain for a month in Cairo before returning to Gaza, if Israel allows. But Israel has been warned that banishing the sheikh could precipitate a revival of Hamas's bombing campaign against Israeli civilians.

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During his odyssey, Sheikh Yassin has reportedly raised $300 million for Hamas clinics, schools and welfare projects for the Palestinian poor and, allegedly, secured a $15 million a month subsidy from Iran for Hamas's resistance activities against the continuing Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.

According to Dr Ghassan Khatib, a leading Palestinian commentator, the sheikh's success springs from growing Arab opposition to the peace process, hostility towards the Palestinian President, Mr Yasser Arafat, and the Arab regime's wish to gain control of Hamas by funding the movement.

This has alarmed the Palestine Authority because it has been unable to attract former levels of Saudi and Gulf financial aid.

This is due to the Palestinian refusal to support the war effort against Iraq in 1991. Israel fears such a large injection of funds will allow Hamas to expand its social programmes and reinforce its growing popularity among ordinary Palestinians.

A recent opinion poll showed the Hamas approval rating has, since last autumn, risen from 27 to 38 per cent to equal Mr Arafat's.

Hamas's star has risen for several reasons. Mr Arafat failed to deliver either land or prosperity to the Palestinians, whose standard of living has fallen by 40 per cent since 1993's Oslo accord.

Mr Arafat might have maintained his standing had he established an effective administration but the authority is corrupt, inefficient and undemocratic.

In addition, Hamas has curbed the bombers - aware that its bombing campaign was unpopular because it produced repression.

In theory, Hamas has simply to bide its time until both the peace process and the authority collapse. Then strengthened by an injection of funds, Hamas could assume leadership of the Palestinians and resume resistance.