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Hamas official in Gaza Mahmoud Zahar
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Hamas official: Palmer Report 'biased'

Mahmoud al-Zahar claims UN's Palmer Report is 'biased.' The Hamas official in Gaza believes report takes stand against Turkey, Palestinian people due to 'Israeli-American pressure'

Hamas official in Gaza Mahmoud al-Zahar called the UN's Palmer Report a 'biased' document, in an interview to a Lebanese newspaper on Saturday.

 

In his interview al-Zahar said that "when the report ruled that the blockade on Gaza is legal, it means that it justifies Israel's attempt to prevent any side from breaking the siege imposed on a million and a half Palestinians in Gaza."

 

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Al-Zahar added that the report clearly takes a stand against Turkey and the Palestinian people, claiming it's the result of Israeli-American pressure.

 

The Hamas official justified Turkey's diplomatic actions taken Friday, including the expulsion of Israeli Ambassador Gabby Levy from Ankara.

 

"A country that accepts the fact that its citizens are being killed, as the Turks were killed onboard the Marmara in international waters along the Gaza coast, and then leaves its relationship with the killer unchanged – is a country that risks it's credibility amongst its people," said Zahar.

 

He concluded that therefore the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador is a reasonable move on Ankara's behalf.

 

'Apology won't bring back dead'

Al-Zahar also criticized Turkey for insisting on receiving a formal apology from Israel in regards to the flotilla events. "An apology will not bring the dead back to life," he remarked.

 

Meanwhile, another Hamas official was quick to congratulate Turkey on Friday for its diplomatic actions against Israel.

 

"We welcome this decision and see it as a fit response to the crimes against the international flotilla that tried to breach the siege," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said. Hamas also slammed the Palmer Report as "unfair and unjust."

 

The Islamic Jihad issued a statement Friday saying the latest Turkish step is an important one on the way to isolate Israel. The organization also called Arab and Islamic countries across the world to cut all ties with Israel.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 09.03.11, 14:40
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