Mashaal: Talks with Israel waste of time

Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said during a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday morning in Tehran that the terror group is not deterred by threats to halt international aid to the Palestinian Authority, adding that Hamas will receive sufficient assistance from Muslim countries.

Mashaal referred to Israel’s decision to freeze the transfer of funds to the PA as “unfair,” saying: “We will be compensated through the support we will get from the Arab and Islamic world.”

“Our Iranian brothers will play a major role in the shaping of the PA and Palestinian nation in light of the many challenges facing us,” he said.

Mottaki said in response that in order to ensure the necessary aid to the PA Iran will work in cooperation with the Islamic Committee to formulate an aid-package for the Palestinians.

Manouchehr Mottaki (left) with Khaled Mashaal (Photo: AFP) 

The Hamas leader went on to say that the organization will hold negotiations with Israel the minute Israel 'recognizes the rights of the Palestinian people and withdraws from occupied territories,” adding that negotiations with Israel under current circumstances were a "waste of time."

Mashaal’s deputy, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said Monday that "there's no doubt that there is a realistic recognition on our part of Israel, that Israel exists in the territory – and there's no signing agreements with an imaginary body but with a body that exists."

Also on Monday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told Mashaal not to be concerned over funding.

“If you work for Allah, he will provide for you,” Ahmadinejad said.

Both the president and Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on Hamas to continue fighting the “Zionist occupation regime.”

“Based on international law, the future Palestinian government is authorized to fight to liberate the occupied lands, “Ahmadinejad said, adding that “Israel was established on a sad day when the Muslims were asleep, but now they are waking up.”

“Today there is a wave of Islamic awakening and a gradual collapse of western hegemony, and this is the reason the conquerors feel uncomfortable on the occupied lands.”

'This is the only way to succeed'

In an attempt to encourage the Hamas leaders, Ahmadinejad said “Today the will of the Palestinian nation is the strongest in the Middle East. By voting for Hamas the Palestinian stressed their devotion to the ideal of resistance until their entire land is freed, and the heretics can’t deal with this will.”

On Monday the Hamas delegation to Iran met with Khamenei, who said "The only way to succeed is to continue to resist the occupation."

"The Palestinian people knew voting for Hamas marks the continuation of fighting against the Zionist occupation regime," he added.

Iran's spiritual leader backed Mashaal's position, which rejects recognition of Israel, and demanded Palestinian refugees be allowed to return to Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

"This is the only way to succeed," Khamenei said.

Khamenei also called on Arab countries to assist the new Hamas-led government and back its refusal to recognize Israel.

"Such support will boost the link between Muslims and Palestinians and have great influence on the world, while also boosting the moral of those facing Israel's systematic belligerence," he said.