Khaled Mashal, head of Hamas' political bureau, said Thursday that the movement has asked to delay the discussions on the calm until after the Palestinian Authority elections, and it does not think that the calm should be renewed.
Mashal spoke in a phone call with Palestinian security prisoners in a Beer Sheva jail, after the prisoners managed to smuggle a cell phone into the prison.
Hamas' website reported that during the phone call Mashal said that an Egyptian envoy has arrived in Damascus in order to coordinate with him the date of the discussions.
| Changing Positions |
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| Hamas says group committed to truce / By Associated Press |
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Hamas's political leader Khaled Mashal said Thursday that his group and other Palestinian factions were still committed to a truce agreed upon with Israel, despite Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Netanya perpetrated by the Islamic Jihad |
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Mashal made it clear that "The current conditions do not encourage an extension of the calm." He added that "Sharon is continuing his policy and wishes to politically dictate the Palestinians."
Abbas riding the wave
According to the report, Mashal also referred to the upcoming municipal elections in the Palestinian Authority, admitting that his movement suffered a painful blow as a result of Israel's detentions.
Mashal also accused sources in the Palestinian Authority of contributing to the harming of Hamas, for fear that the movement will increase its power among the Palestinian public.
Mashal claimed that he has proof that sources in the Palestinian Authority are working together with Israel in order to harm Hamas.
"Unfortunately, we have information that a number of Palestinian security organizations have transferred to the Zionist side lists of Hamas activists recently arrested by Israel," he said.
"They believe that these strikes will weaken Hamas. This is also the reason why the local elections have been postponed in the Gaza Strip, while they are still expected to take place in the West Bank. They hope that Hamas, which is being hit by the Zionist enemy, will not succeed in the elections," he charged.
Palestinian sources refused to confirm to Ynet that Hamas had submitted an official request to postpone the discussion, but said that the possibility was being examined.
The sources also noted that the Palestinian Authority, headed by Mahmoud Abbas, will not necessarily object to the request, if it is submitted.
They explained that now, after reaching the Gaza crossings agreement
and removing the checkpoints in the West Bank, Abbas has strengthened his status among the Palestinians, and therefore he will not hurry to conduct discussions with Hamas, since such discussions would put Hamas at a similar status as Fatah.
The sources claimed that Abbas would prefer to go to elections while he is riding on the waves of fame following the new agreements.
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