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Al-Zahar. 'West should renounce violence'
Photo: AP

Hamas leader: Expect wave of flotillas after World Cup

In interview with The Independent, Mahmoud al-Zahar criticizes Egypt for preventing passage of Iranian vessels in Suez Canal, says asked Shalit's captors to allow Red Cross visit but was rejected

Former Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar has warned Israel to expect the resumption of international flotillas to the Gaza Strip in the near future, British newspaper The Independent reported Monday. "After the Mondial (World Cup) at least eight ships will come from the Gulf," he said. When asked whether Iranian vessels will be involved al-Zahar responded, "Why not?"

 

In an interview with the British newspaper, the Hamas figure said that there would be more flotillas "than in your imagination."

 

Referring to the possibility that Egypt might prevent a flotilla from the Persian Gulf passing through the Suez Canal en route to Gaza, al-Zahar said; "They have the right in international law to go as the Israelis go. Egypt will never be able to stop such a campaign."

 

The newspaper quoted al-Zahar addressing the possibility that Iran may sponsor vessels: "I ask you about morality. Where is your morality if Iran is going to give food and drugs? What justifies preventing that?"

 

Al-Zahar also accused the Israeli government of reneging on a prisoner swap agreement which he insisted could have led to the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit. "Up to this moment, the Israeli intention is not to have an agreement," he claimed. The Hamas leader said that Shalit's captors were the ones refusing to allow a visit by the Red Cross or another international humanitarian organization and noted the people concerned told him a visit was impossible.

 

The Hamas official repeated the group's claim that during the last negotiations, brokered by a German mediator, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to an initial list of 325 Palestinian prisoners to be released, and possibly 125 more. However, he noted that things have changed since then, and refused to answer a question about whether the German mediator is still involved in negotiations.

 

'West wants another Karzai'

Addressing political issues, al-Zahar criticized Western leaders for ignoring the Palestinian Authority elections, which Hamas had won, and noted, "Why did the Western people boycott Hamas after the election? Because they want a new Karzai in Palestine".

 

According to the newspaper, al-Zahar claimed the Gaza blockade conformed to Western definitions of "terrorism" by using "violence" to change the attitudes of its victims. "I am asking you, why did you accept this process four years ago?"

 

The Hamas leader expressed satisfaction at pressure put by the Quartet on Israel to relax the siege but stressed that his organization continues to reject the international community's demand to recognize Israel, adhere to past agreements with Israel and renounce violence.

 

"What is the real border of Israel? What about the occupation of Jerusalem, what about the occupation of the Golan Heights? I ask Israelis to renounce violence," he said. "I ask your country (Britain) and then the Americans to renounce violence in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan and then we are going to speak about renouncing violence."

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.28.10, 10:34
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