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Haniyeh. 'Decision must come from within'
Photo: AFP
photo: Noam Rotem
Gilad Shalit. Still no deal
photo: Noam Rotem

Long way to go on Shalit, says Palestinian PM

'Ending issue of kidnapped IDF solider seems difficult', Ismail Haniyeh says, adding that Iran should not be viewed as Hamas' ally; 'we are not members of any axis,' he says

The issue of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit "is complicated, and bringing it to an end seems difficult," said Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said in an interview with the al-Hayat newspaper published Friday morning.

 

Despite progress made so far and Hamas' repeated calls for an agreement with Israel, according to the London-based newspaper, Haniyeh said there is still a long way to go.

 

Progress on the matter was also reported by Mousa Abu Marzook, a senior Hamas official in Syria, but according to Abu Marzook, it came to an end following Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's visit to Egypt two weeks ago.

 

"Olmert took a few steps back after the visit," said Abu Marzook, despite Egyptian mediation attempts.

 

Regarding Hamas' future relationship with Israel, if and when the party would join the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), Haniyeh was asked if Hamas would recognize Israel and responded by saying "there are factions in the PLO that do not recognize Israel."

 

'We have come a long way'

Haniyeh was also asked if the Hamas movement would be open for negotiations with Israel in the future, but he cautiously responded that there was no need to rush matters.

 

Negotiations on a Palestinian unity government, which have begun in Gaza on Wednesday and are set to resume on Friday, were also addressed in the interview.

 

Haniyeh stressed that the decision to establish a unity government must "come from within" and not be dictated by the United States.

 

"We have already come a long way in talks and reached agreements… we have agreed to avoid an internal war, and stop the incitement in the media," said Haniyeh on the internal violence in the Palestinian Authority between Hamas and Fatah supporters.

 

Haniyeh also made it clear that Iran should not be viewed as Hamas' ally, saying "we are not members of one axis or another."

 


פרסום ראשון: 01.26.07, 11:15
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