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Listen to Hamas By Haaretz Editorial Tags: peace talks, hamas  Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the ousted prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, described "the territories of 1967" as the territory of the Palestinian state "at this time." He told Haaretz correspondent Amira Hass that the Hamas government had previously made it clear that it was willing to accept a Palestinian state that followed the 1967 borders and to offer Israel a long-term hudna, or truce, if Israel recognized the Palestinians' national rights, as Haaretz reported Sunday. At first glance, it appears Haniyeh was not saying anything fundamentally different from what he said two years ago. But Haniyeh's comments are imbued with special significance against the backdrop of recent events in the Gaza Strip and the exchanges of fire that put the current lull at risk, along with the presidential election results in the United States and Khaled Meshal's statements that Hamas is willing to negotiate with the new American government. This is also the case in light of the efforts to foster a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas and the nearly completed term of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. The Israeli government remains staunch in its position that it will not hold political negotiations with Hamas - even though it is conducting indirect talks with Hamas that brought about a lull and are intended to lead to the release of Gilad Shalit. For its part, Hamas is not offering to recognize Israel or make peace with it. A long-term hudna and the establishment of a state along the 1967 lines "at this time" are the most to which the organization is willing to commit. Advertisement It would appear that a country aspiring to reach a comprehensive political agreement with the PA that will end the conflict cannot make do with the positions presented by Haniyeh. But it is too easy to dismiss his comments or stick to existing positions. The cumbersome and slow political negotiations with Abbas, and the Israeli foot-dragging, even when it comes to minimal humanitarian gestures toward the Palestinians, are not testaments to Israel's sincerity. The main achievement of this policy was the mobilization of international support for the Israeli position against Hamas, without giving practical specifications for a solution. Even in the absence of a peace agreement, Israel has great interest in normal life on the Palestinian side and the possibility of conducting a practical dialogue and engaging in genuine cooperation with the Palestinian leadership on economic and security issues. Even right-wing leaders like Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Begin speak about an "economic peace" as a bypass road to political peace. But for such cooperation to work, Palestinian leadership is needed that represents all the Palestinian people and enjoys widespread legitimacy and authority. To achieve this, the Palestinians must have a national reconciliation, and Israel must recognize any government established with Palestinian approval - even if its members belong to Hamas or other factions. The Israeli illusion that the West Bank will be able to continue to be calm while Gaza is blockaded and shelled will end up being shattered. None of this is an alternative to political negotiations or concessions that Israel and the Palestinians must make to reach a final-status agreement. But Israeli recognition of any Palestinian government that is established is liable to lay a practical and stable foundation for cooperation, and perhaps even for deeper confidence that will advance the political process. Israel must therefore turn an attentive ear to the statements coming out of Gaza, and reexamine its policy. Bookmark to del.icio.us   No light at the end Amira Hass / Powerless in Gaza, residents rely on the tunnels. Offensive strikes Report: U.S. secretly attacked dozens of Mideast targets since 2004.   1.   We SHOULD Listen To Hamas- AND Act Accordingly 09:38  |  Yishai kohen 10/11/08   2.   LOUD& clear."Long term hudna" ??Why Hamas allergic to PEACE? 09:52  |  PETER SM. 10/11/08   3.   Yes.Israel,listen to Hamas 09:59  |  Hastaroth 10/11/08   4.   LISTENING"Hamas: No room to implement long-term truce with Israel 10:00  |  PETER SM 10/11/08   5.   Olmert blew it, Livni mustn`t 10:08  |  Clickfool 10/11/08   6.   OBAMA MUST LISTEN TO THIS 10:15  |  indrajaya 10/11/08   7.   Editorial...? 10:25  |  Esther 10/11/08   8.   What about shooting first and then listening? 10:29  |  Moshe 10/11/08   9.   talk is always cheap with arabs 90 years on 10:42  |  victor hardman 10/11/08   10.   Talk to Hamas 10:53  |  Keith T. 10/11/08   11.   We ARE listening... 10:56  |  Tzfonit 10/11/08   12.   Listen to Hamas 10:57  |  Ralph 10/11/08   13.   What??? 11:15  |  S 10/11/08   14.   Very wrong 12:13  |  ScotGuy 10/11/08   15.   Israels goal is to avoid peace, not to find peace 12:58  |  Natallie Durson 10/11/08   16.   Clickprick and Indrahaha,are you both THAT stupid? 14:09  |  Hastaroth 10/11/08   17.   Realism 14:14  |  realist 10/11/08   18.   Clickprick and Indrahaha,are you THAT stupid? 14:19  |  Hastaroth 10/11/08   19.   I will make peace with anyone........ 14:34  |  Jay A Friedman 10/11/08   20.   Talk To Enemies? OK, Sworn Enemies? NaDa 15:00  |  Alex 10/11/08   21.   Onus of change should be on the Pals, not Israel 15:11  |  Joe Frazier 10/11/08   22.   #6 Indrajaya must listen & think about THIS 15:22  |  Mustafa krapp 10/11/08   23.   A little "quiz" for the Israeli/Diaspora audience..... 15:24  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08   24.   #1 But Yishai kohen 15:43  |  raul gilberto 10/11/08   25.   Israel has one ear to Hamas through Abbas. 16:02  |  Akram Zekaria 10/11/08   26.   Hamas offer peace, not a truce, promise Israeli security 16:03  |  x-ray 10/11/08   27.   We`re Hanging Onto Every Word From Hamas 16:08  |  Jeff Northridge 10/11/08   28.   #24 But Raul Gilberto 16:08  |  Yishai Kohen 10/11/08   29.   Indeed, Hastaroth 16:09  |  Murray 10/11/08   30.   Maybe Israel should listen to NeoNazis too? 16:13  |  Tomer 10/11/08   31.   Maybe we should listen to Hezbola and /or Bin Laden too? 16:14  |  Haaretz Reader 10/11/08   32.   Listen to Hamas? 16:25  |  Angel 10/11/08   33.   it may help reconciliation with Fatah but whats in it for Israel 16:30  |  zionist forever 10/11/08   34.   HaAretz ignores the context shaping the settlement 16:35  |  Afikoman 10/11/08   35.   Re: Dino # 23 16:44  |  Angel 10/11/08   36.   Swiss (Dino) # 23 That Is Not The Choice 16:49  |  Jeff Northridge 10/11/08   37.   a ccccchallenge all of these totally impractical posters 17:03  |  victor hardman 10/11/08   38.   Re: Natallie Durson # 15 17:18  |  Angel 10/11/08   39.   All take and no give 17:21  |  Walter 10/11/08   40.   Why do Jews have a compulsion to try and charm their killers? 17:29  |  dyinglikeflies 10/11/08   41.   Never ever the Hamas like Arafat Are Liars! 17:38  |  Big Sur 10/11/08   42.   Durson and Indrayaja Iranian Poster girls 17:41  |  Big Sur 10/11/08   43.   This Editorial Is Symptomatic of a Genetic Disorder 17:47  |  Tod Zuckerman 10/11/08   44.   Swiss Dino #23 17:47  |  Big Sur 10/11/08   45.   Say what?! 18:04  |  Cyper Cynic 10/11/08   46.   Nattelie - arabs are expanded there WB settlements!! 18:07  |  Dr eric 10/11/08   47.   Swiss (Dino) what is best? 18:22  |  David israel 10/11/08   48.   Listen to hamas 18:24  |  Monty Pogoda 10/11/08   49.   What a naive and irresponsible Editorial 18:29  |  Fortuna Benmayor 10/11/08   50.   We hear hamas loud and clear 18:39  |  peter 10/11/08   51.   "Hudna" does not mean truce or peace, it means regroup 19:37  |  Isaac 10/11/08   52.   Natallie`s goal is goal nefesh 19:37  |  Israeli citizen 10/11/08   53.   Eficient negotiations. 19:41  |  Jim 10/11/08   54.   The PEOPLE of Israel are listening 19:43  |  Arie 10/11/08   55.   Let`s be fair... 19:56  |  David K 10/11/08   56.   Hamas does not accept Israels right to exist in their charter 20:03  |  Sarah 10/11/08   57.   Peace Plan 20:13  |  Jasper 10/11/08   58.   Hi Jasper # 57 then there`s the Neville Chamberlain Doctrine. 20:41  |  Sarah 10/11/08   59.   Quiz for Swiss (Dino): what is better: a Swiss bank or... 20:42  |  Israeli citizen 10/11/08   60.   # 35 Angel/# 36 Jeff/# 44 Big Sur/# 47 David Israel 20:43  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08   61.   We should listen to what they say 20:51  |  stalin`s victim 10/11/08   62.   #60 Dino we fail because you do not listen! 20:56  |  Big Sur 10/11/08   63.   Swiss (Dino) If you refuse to understand reality ... 21:06  |  David Israel 10/11/08   64.   Re Dino # 35 21:14  |  Angel 10/11/08   65.   Murray -- off track -- as usual 21:49  |  SDHD 10/11/08   66.   Change your pattern, peace might come ! 21:54  |  Monir d. 10/11/08   67.   Swiss (Dino) # 60 It`s Because Of The Strings 22:20  |  Jeff Northridge 10/11/08   68.   #62 You failed because you keep building Illegal settlements 22:25  |  Labhras 10/11/08   69.   Signs of political gridlock, an offer of blood today or blood tom 22:39  |  Jacob Blues 10/11/08   70.   # 62 Big Sur and # 63 David Israel 23:01  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08   71.   #68 Lahbrasserie, No we did not fail 23:18  |  Big Sur 10/11/08   72.   # 67 Jeff Northridge 23:25  |  Swiss (Dino) 10/11/08   73.   @24, swiss idiot dino, please. leave us alone 23:27  |  vladimir 10/11/08   74.   PA reconciliation fine but Quartet`s request is the minimum they 23:57  |  Smadar 10/11/08   75.   THEY Do. On Hamas`s Al Aqsa TV,they say what they really mean 01:01  |  PETER SM. 11/11/08   76.   Fair 02:37  |  one standard for all 11/11/08   77.   Arabs attacked in `48, `67 and `73 04:29  |  Arkady 11/11/08   78.   # 23 Swiss (Dino) 05:32  |  Howard 11/11/08   79.   Swiss (Dino) No Israel did not but ... 05:43  |  David israel 11/11/08   80.   #72 Swiss (Dino) 05:45  |  Howard 11/11/08   81.   Without giving practical specifications for a solution? 06:16  |  Edward 11/11/08   82.   Israel has listened long enough! 08:40  |  Don 11/11/08   83.   (#75) and Al Aqsa TV and to any human being on this site 09:19  |  Howard 11/11/08   84.   Editor(s) 09:32  |  Howard 11/11/08   85.   Editor(s) 09:37  |  Howard 11/11/08   86.   # 73 vladimir, thanks for your "warm words"..... 10:00  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/11/08   87.   # 78 / # 80 Howard 10:10  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/11/08   88.   almost a sensible editorial 12:07  |  raymond deane 11/11/08   89.   Can anyone imagine similar Listen to Israel in a Hamas editorial? 17:35  |  fourth columnist 11/11/08   90.   swiss 87 18:55  |  strange 11/11/08   91.   # 90 strange 20:42  |  Swiss (Dino) 11/11/08   92.   howard 83 welcome to the real world 21:06  |  strange 11/11/08   93.   Can anyone imagine similar Listen to Israel in a Hamas editorial? 01:58  |  Nate 12/11/08

Read & React Aluf Benn: No leader before Olmert explicitly urged return to '67 borders Responses: 187 Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. election Responses: 169 Moshe Arens: History may judge Bush, Iraq war, very differently Responses: 60 Israel renews fuel deliveries to Gaza, after week-long halt Responses: 105 U.S. Jews to Mormons: Stop baptizing Holocaust victims Responses: 124 More Headlines 00:54 Poll: Secular hopeful Nir Barkat leading in Jerusalem mayoral race 22:05 Nasrallah: Israeli hands that attack Lebanon will be severed 00:57 Abbas says Israel has proposed Jerusalem concessions in the past 19:22 Netanyahu will seek alternative to current peace talks if elected 02:14 PM aides slam Livni, say she made concessions on Jerusalem to Palestinians 00:05 Arafat's nephew insists Israel poisoned the late Palestinian leader 15:51 Blair's bodyguard accidentally fires gun at Ben Gurion airport 20:26 Sweden court: Civil servant unlawfully demoted for pro-Israel views 15:58 Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. election 20:44 IDF files harsh indictments against officers involved in Golan training accident 01:46 ANALYSIS / No leader before Olmert has explicitly called for return to '67 borders 15:59 UN: Gaza food aid to halt if Israel keeps crossings closed 08:28 Obama, and the first Arab prime minister of Israel 18:21 U.S. Jewish group to Mormons: Stop baptizing Holocaust victims Previous Editions Select Day 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct

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