Since its founding, the terrorist organization Hamas has stated openly that its ultimate goal – the destruction of Israel – will unfold in stages. As the Hamas charter, written on August 18, 1988, reads, “The Islamic Resistance Movement is well qualified for the upcoming stage [of the struggle] with the Jews.”

During the Palestinian-Arab elections, questions arose regarding whether Hamas’s plans for the step-by-step destruction of Israel had changed since it the group’s political platform did not explicitly call for such ruin. A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, denied the group’s purpose had been modified: “The platform refers to details and implementation methods for the next four years, while the charter lays out our permanent strategic views.”

One Hamas candidate, Salah Al-Bardawil, told Islamonline on January 14, “The platform presents a realistic view that reflects Hamas’s goals for the next four years. Had we spoken of eliminating and eradicating Israel within this period, we would have been deceiving our people … But this does not stand in contradiction [of the fact that] we place emphasis on the elimination … of Israel.”

In a February 13 interview with Dream TV, the deputy head of Hamas, Musa Abu Marzouq, was asked if “Hamas is talking in two voices – to the Palestinians it says 1948, and to the foreigners it says 1967.” He answered, “From the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea belongs to the Palestinians …”and “we also say that we are dealing realistically with the current phase – an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty over the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza.” Mr. Marzouq was then asked: “Is this a partial or phased solution?” to which he replied, “It is a temporary and phased solution. This is not the permanent solution.”

At a January 29 press conference covered by Al-Jazeera, Hamas’s leader, Khaled Mash’al, also discussed Hamas’s philosophy. “We are realistic, and know things are done gradually, in stages,” he said. He explained that Hamas understands that its “strategic goals” to “abolish Israel” cannot be accomplished in “a matter of moments.” But added: “We believe in acting according to stages, gradually and realistically … step by step. We will establish our state on any piece of land we liberate.”

A Hamas representative in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, gave an interview to ANB TV on January 26 in which he explicitly discussed the “phased solution” to destroy Israel by liberating “Acre, the Galilee, Haifa, Jaffa, Lod, Ramla, and Beersheba … What [Hamas leader] Isma’il Haniya said about accepting a phased solution – or what we called ‘liberation in phases’ is possible.”

In an August 18 interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Hamas’s leader Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahar elaborated on Hamas’s strategy, saying, “Our plan in the first stage is to liberate the lands occupied in 1967.” In an interview broadcast by Al-Manar TV on January 25, Mr. Al-Zahar said, “Palestine means Palestine in its entirety – from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River … If at present we cannot bring about a decisive victory … we are saying that we may agree to found a state on any part of the land.”

During the week of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, Hamas Friday sermons considered the move to be a stage leading toward Israel’s dissolution. Sheik Mazzar Rayan on September 16 said, “The vanquishing of the enemy in Gaza does not mean this stage has ended. We still have Jerusalem and the pure West Bank … We do not distinguish between what was occupied in the 1940s and what was occupied in the 1960s. Our jihad continues.”

A Hamas spokesman, Mushir Al-Masri, explained in an interview on Al-Arabiya TV on December 5, 2004, “I think that the strategy of Hamas is clear: liberating the entire land of Palestine from the plunderers. Hamas … believes that Tel Aviv is like Gaza.”

Speaking to a crowd chanting, “Destroy Tel Aviv,” broadcast on Al-Jazeera on December 20, Hamas leader Khaled Mash’al told the crowd: “When will we celebrate … the liberation of the West Bank? … the liberation of Jaffa, Haifa, Safed, and the Negev? When will we celebrate the departure of the last Zionist from our land?… It could be soon.”

Hamas is not alone in its planned “staged” destruction of Israel. Following its election victory, Mr. Mash’al received a phone call from Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who was quoted by IRNA on January 30 as saying: “We thank God that struggles, self-sacrifices and martyrdom-seeking attempts of the children of [the] Palestinian nation have today resulted in the first stage of victory.”

The next stage is well-known. It is Mr. Ahmadinejad’s call for Israel to be wiped off the map – a dream shared by Hamas.

Mr. Stalinsky is the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute.