'We want calm Gaza.' Al-Zahar
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Abbas (L) and Bibi in Washington
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Al-Zahar: No connection between attacks, peace talks
Addressing this week's terror attacks against Israelis in West Bank, senior Hamas official says, 'When people have an opportunity, as well as the capabilities and targets, they act.' Adds: We will not bear responsibility for failure of faulty negotiations
Senior Hamas figure Mahmoud al-Zahar said there was no connection between this week's terror attacks in the West Bank and the launching of direct peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
In an interview with London-based Arabic daily a-Sharq al-Awsat published Thursday, al-Zahar said the attempt to link the attacks to the peace talks is "fundamentally wrong," adding that the decision to carry out the attacks was made by "people in the field."
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"There are those who are saying the timing of the attacks was deliberate, but this is not true. When people have an opportunity, as well as the capabilities and targets, they act."
Four Israelis were killed and two others were injured in two separate shooting attacks this week. Hamas' armed wing claimed responsibility for both attacks.
"We will not bear responsibility for the failure of what is faulty at its foundation," al-Zahar said, referring to the possibility that the peace negotiations will collapse.
"We want Gaza to remain calm because we liberated it. At this time we are not speaking of the liberation of all of Palestine. The current plan is to liberate the West Bank," the Hamas man said. "If they (Palestinian Authority) succeed in doing so, we will give them credit. How was Gaza freed? Through negotiations? Of course not. The Israelis understood that (occupying Gaza) exacts a heavy price and chose to leave.
"The question is who is preventing resistance in the West Bank? They (PA) are by cooperating with Israel on security issues," according to al-Zahar.
Addressing the peace talks, the Hamas official said, "Its results are already known. The Israelis are united with regards to Jerusalem, and the Palestinian side will get nothing. Secondly, the refugees – who can convince the (Palestinian) refugees in Jordan, Syria or Lebanon to accept what is being proposed?
"Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) will conduct himself as Abu Amar (Yasser Arafat) did – he will not give up on the principles and the issue will be over," al-Zahar stated.
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