Hamas hopeful on Obama
Top Hamas member says group hopes to see Obama open new page in ties with Muslims
Hamas strongman Mahmoud Zahar says he hopes the election victory of Barack Obama will open a new page in relations between the US and the Muslim world.
However, Zahar says he does not expect immediate change in US policy toward Hamas. The Bush administration is boycotting the Islamic group, along with most of the international community.
Hamas refuses to renounce violence or recognize Israel. Last year, Hamas seized Gaza by force, and Zahar was instrumental in the takeover.
He said Friday that "we hope, we hope, that Obama opens a new page with the world, including the Muslim world." But citing what he believes is undue Israeli influence on U.S. policy, he said he doesn't expect Obama to talk to Hamas, at least at the start of his presidency.
'Obama should learn from Bush's failure'
Meanwhile, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh proceeded to blast outgoing US President George W. Bush.
"We hope to work in cooperation with Barack Obama. He should draw the conclusions from the policy failure of the pervious Administration," Haniyeh said. "The current Administration exhausted the international community because of the backing it provided to the (Israeli) occupation and its belligerence in Gaza."
Haniyeh also called on the new American Administration to honor the results of the Palestinian elections that brought Hamas to power.
Palestinian Authority President also lauded Obama's election victory, expressing his hope that the next president will advance the peace process with Israel. Abbas said Obama was serious in his desire to resolve Mideastern problems.
