Report: Mashaal to deliver diplomatic speech after Netanyahu

Hamas politburo chief to deliver important address immediately after prime minister's speech next week, to present new strategy for his organization, al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reports

Roee Nahmias|Published: 06.09.09 , 09:42

Signs of optimism? Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal plans to deliver a special diplomatic speech of his own, immediately after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech next week, the London-based Arabic-language al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper reported Tuesday morning.

According to the report, Mashaal will present in his speech a new strategy for the Hamas movement, in response to US President Barack Obama's historic reconciliation speech to the Muslim world last week.

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A source close to Hamas reported that the movement was now considering a number of options and diplomatic alternatives which it might present, some of which will be presented by Mashaal soon, in light of the new diplomatic approach expected to be taken by the American administration.

The same source added that following Mashaal's speech, which will outline the general characteristics of Hamas' strategy towards the diplomatic negotiations and agreement, Egypt is expected to official invite the Palestinian factions for a discussion on its territory.

'Dealing with Hamas is vital'

Exiled Hamas leader Moussa Abu Marzouk urged Obama on Monday to talk directly with his organization, saying it was the representative of the Palestinian people and the American president's drive for Mideast peace is impossible without them.

Marzouk, also told The Associated Press that the group would not renounce violence — a key US demand before Washington will agree to deal with the group that it considers a terrorist organization. The US and its European allies also want Hamas to recognize Israel, another step the group has refused to take.

The Obama administration should change that position, Abu Marzouk said, "because they know that without Hamas their efforts will not succeed."

Abu Marzouk dismissed Obama's call on the Palestinians to abandon violence, saying that "the real violence in the region is (the Israeli) occupation. It's also unacceptable that Obama talked about violence and didn't talk about occupation."

He praised Obama's firm stand against Israeli settlement construction in the West Bank, which the Palestinians want for a future state along with Gaza and east Jerusalem. Israel captured those areas in the 1967 war.

The Hamas leader said the Obama administration must talk to the group.

"Dealing with Hamas is vital because he (Obama) cannot deal with people who don't represent the Palestinian people," Abu Marzouk said, in a reference to Abbas' Fatah movement.