Hamas threatens violence
Hamas spokesperson warns Israel against setting borders with the Palestinians unilaterally; says Palestinians have right to resist occupation in West Bank, but rules out attacks on civilians in Israel, British newspaper The Guardian reports
Hamas’ spokesmen in the Palestinian Legislative Council said the Palestinians had the right to renew violent attacks against Israeli targets in the West Bank, but fell short of threatening suicide attacks within Israel.
But Mahmoud Ramahi, Hamas' spokesman in the Palestinian parliament, said Palestinians had the right to renew hostilities within the West Bank if the occupation continued, although he ruled out a renewal of suicide attacks within Israel. Such attacks were part of a policy of retaliation for the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army, a policy which had now ended, he said.
"We have been observing the elections very carefully because they affect us directly. We hope they will change their policies towards us. So far we have heard some positive things and there has been a change in rhetoric from the campaign but there is still the questions of 'who is a partner for peace'. They said (Yasser) Arafat was not a partner for peace, then (Palestinian president) Mahmoud Abbas and now Hamas. I can only imagine that their ideal partner is another Israeli," Ramahi said.
"Negotiation is the job of the PLO as the representatives of the Palestinians all over the world. When there is a final agreement there should be a referendum of Palestinians everywhere and we will respect the result," he told the Guardian.
'Peace requires talking'
Hassan Kreishi, a legislator who was elected as an independent but supported by Hamas, said he hoped the election would eventually lead to peace negotiations between Hamas and Israel.
"This has not been a historic election and you can see this from the lazy response of the Israeli voters. The low turnout shows that the Israeli voters did not care about their politicians and they do not believe their vote will change anything," he said.
Olmert’s hint to Abbas as a possible peace partner in his post-election speech is a positive sign, Kreishi told the British daily.
"Before he talked about taking unilateral steps, now he is talking about negotiation. With the new era in the Palestinian Authority we can now start negotiating on a more equal basis than before. Israel must realize that to make peace with us it has to talk to us. We chose our government and they have chosen theirs. Now it's time to talk," he said.
