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Photo: AP
Ismail Haniyeh. 'An end to this complicated situation'
Photo: AP

Hamas: We want to end deadlock

In symbolic appeal to Israelis ahead of elections, Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh says group wants to end crisis with Israel

Making a symbolic appeal to Israelis ahead of Israeli elections, incoming Palestinian

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said Sunday that Hamas wanted to end the crisis with Israel.

 

"We don't seek a whirlpool of blood in this region," Haniyeh said. "We want rights and dignity for this (Palestinian) people, and to put an end to this decades-long complicated situation."

 

Hamas' victory in January 25 Palestinian elections further strained Israeli-Palestinian relations that were already in tatters after more than five years of violence. Hamas,

which has killed dozens of Israelis in suicide attacks, calls for the destruction of Israel.

 

Israel cut off the transfer of millions of dollars of taxes it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and threatened to severe all ties once the Hamas government takes office, which is expected later this week.

 

The Islamic group's election does not deepen the crisis, Haniyeh said. "The presence of Hamas in the power is the beginning of resolving the crisis, if they want to."

 

Hamas has so far refused to accept Israel's demands that it renounce violence, recognize Israel and honor all Israeli-Palestinian agreements.

 

'Problem is with Olmert, not with us'

 

Haniyeh did not say which Israeli party competing in Tuesday's election he thinks would be best for the Palestinians. But he said the intention of the leading Kadima Party of Acting Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to withdraw from parts of the West Bank without agreement from the Palestinians is unacceptable.

 

"We will not hang onto the tails of the occupation," Haniyeh told journalists in Gaza City. "But this doesn't mean that we consider the borders they decide on to be those of the Palestinian state."

 

Hamas was elected "on the principle of defending the legitimacy of resistance against the Israeli occupation," Haniyeh said without elaborating.

 

Asked if Hamas would hold talks with Israel, Haniyeh said the decision was out of his hands.

"The problem is with Olmert, with Kadima. He said he will not have any contacts with the Palestinian government. He announced a position. The problem is not with us," he said.

 

Haniyeh said his government was to be sworn in on Wednesday.

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.26.06, 15:57
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