Hamas vows to honor Palestinian referendum on peace with Israel
Islamist leader Ismail Haniyeh says he would accept a deal with Israel based on 1967 borders and denies that Gaza has become a stronghold for al-Qaida.
By Reuters Tags: Hamas Ismail Haniyeh Israel newsThe Islamist Hamas movement, whose charter advocates the elimination of Israel, would accept the outcome of a Palestinian referendum on a future peace treaty with Israel, its Gaza leader said on Wednesday.
Ismail Haniyeh, addressing a rare news conference in the Israeli-blockaded enclave, signaled a softening of Hamas's long-standing position prohibiting the ceding of any part of the land of what was British-mandated Palestine until 1948.
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Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh |
| Photo by: AP |
"We accept a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and the resolution of the issue of refugees," Haniyeh said, referring to the year of Middle East war in which Israel captured East Jerusalem and the Palestinian territories.
"Hamas will respect the results (of a referendum) regardless of whether it differs with its ideology and principles," he said, provided it included all Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and the diaspora.
The Hamas charter, drafted in 1988, regards all of the land of Palestine, including what is now Israel, as the heritage of Muslims. The idea of a referendum on a future peace accord with Israel was rejected by some Hamas leaders when it was proposed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas several months ago.
Negotiations between Abbas and Israel have since faltered over Israel's refusal to halt settlement building in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
No Al-Qaida here
Haniyeh said Israel was not willing to give the Palestinians a fully sovereign state and he therefore had no hope the fragile U.S.-brokered attempts to revive peacemaking would succeed.
He said his movement was willing to cooperate with Western and European countries "who want to help the Palestinian people regain their rights". The United States and European Union shun Hamas as a terrorist organization and do not recognize its Gaza authority.
"We urge European foreign ministers to revise their position regarding meetings with the elected government," Haniyeh said, adding that contacts were being made with United Nations officials in the Gaza Strip in this regard.
Haniyeh denied Israel's claim to have killed three members of the al-Qaida organization in Gaza in the past month.
Israel said two of three militants it killed in November were planning attacks against Israeli and western tourists in the Egyptian territory of Sinai.
He said a priority of his government was to avoid a military escalation with Israel by persuading other militant factions to preserve a de facto ceasefire.
Hamas had repeatedly distanced itself from al-Qaida and had not hesitated to condemn al-Qaida-claimed attacks in some Arab and western capitals, he noted.
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...the only difference perhaps is that Hamas is not requiring a 2/3 majority in a peace referendum...Israelis know that a peace deal can NEVER pass with 2/3's majority.
Florida, Sakhalin and Greenland are not the parts of Gaza. Gaza is within 67 borders and Moon, Lima and Sirius are not supposed to be of their concern. Sign peace treaty and enjoy cold beer and sunshine, Hamasele...
"Hamas won't make peace" "But they just said they'd make peace" "See, they don't want peace" "Hamas are willing to concede the territories Israel illegally acquired by war by 1950" "See, they want all of Israel!"
Fatah says "we accept a palestinian state within 67 borders", Hamas says "we accept a palestinian state within 67 borders"......in Israel, there are lost of people ready to accept a transfer of population, calling for Jordan as the future palestinian state, an 'economic peace' with pieces of land for the palestinians, who support acitvely occupation and settlements, who are not ready to accept any palestinian state....can we see the diffenrence ??? i can........Israel does not want peace.
You won over 4 countries in some days, now you could wipe out entrie middle east if you wanted so what are you afraid of , make peace with the people that have been living there for 2000 years!
When will Israel ever change?
That's the goal of the entire international community and will most likely become the eventual reality. Good thing Hamas accepts because when it happens its current platform for existing shall with a few minor exceptions be no more.
that all Israel should take a long march into the sea and remove themselves from the country. Why even try to make peace with this fool?
I am becoming convinced that when the rope is tightened on Hamas side, the Israeli right loosens it. And when it is loosened on Hamas side, it is tightened on the Israeli right side. Either they are coordinating their hate of each other in order to make sure they would never love each other, or that they share the same evil mentality.
A very good reading of the situation and it deserves to be hailed for its accuracy! They do share the same evil mentality and both would do anything not to have peace and then blame each other!
Hamas or not , Palestine is for Palestinians and Muslims. It is the Holy Land of Islam and noone is entitled to sell or concede it totally or partialy to Jews. Gaza is in a terrible situation, blockaded, neglected,nad agressed constantly > Arabs, PA and world powers are plotting to liquidate the just rights of Palestinians who live in despair for 62 years and counting. But, neither Abbas, Haneya, nor any other leader are entitled to make a humiliating peace with Israel. Plaestine will be freed by the arms of sincere resustants who would go in the same path as Sheihk Yasin, Rantisi and many other like them. Arafatm, as smart and clever as he was , could not get anything by comprising and appeasing Israel and its protectors.
is that only Haaretz and its Islamist minions believe the "Gospel according to the Jihaids." The denial of this statement will come shortly...probably in the form of a few rockets
he mentioned this was a month ago, followed the very next day with Hamas firing several grads and mortars at Sderot.
Overwhelming from inside ,no war necessary
he's boxed in ... nevertheless as an Islamist, taqiyya is second nature to him
Is it really possible that the peace deal is within reach?
http://vimeo.com/16779150 to' keep always in mind With whom we deal!!
Nobody takes Ismail Haniyeh seriously he is known to lie. Tells his followers one thing and the western media another
Thank you for teaching us that Mr Gideon Levy. Can wait for you to slam Hamas on this immoral anti peace Hamas declaration.
Definitely a step in the right direction. We need peace and the world had enough of this conflict.
It is well known that ME could became an advanced enclave for Arabs if they drop the old outdated idea of throwing Jews out . Maybe there are some changes on the way .
Hunaya said "We accept a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967..." What that means is that "we will agree to a palestenian state on in these borders for now. As we get stronger, we'll take more."
Note the demand for the implementation of the so-called "Palestnian RIght of Return". There demands are the same as Abbas which means NO PEACE WITH ISRAEL.
and leaving Israel in the dust in terms of showing they want peace.
After such a generous declaration of Hamas' desire for peace, it is clear to all that the only obstacle to peace is the zionist regime, which continues to hold on to what is holy muslim ground (from the river to the sea).
Hamas declared years ago, already in the days of Sheikh Yassin, and later even in the New York Times, that it will accept an Israel in the 1967 borders. There is some softening of their position today, in that they put the condition of "the resolution of the issue of refugees", whereas previously this was formulated as "return" of the refugees. The pressure of reality works, or the misfits do not survive. Instead of objecting to reconciliation between Abbas and Hamas, Israel should support it, because then there will be a strong partner for peace. The unfortunate thing today is that it is not clear that Israel is interested in peace.
you can provide evidence to your position? Perhaps a link to Yassin's comments would suffice.
The most Hamas would compromise is to a piecemeal dismantling of Israel, starting with the 1967 "borders" and then eying those of 1948 and beyond until every "T" is crossed and every "i" dotted in their militant charter.
... the inclusion of the entire Pal diiaspora in any arrangement, makes it seem prohibitive for so limited a patch of land...
Let them come to an agreement with the PA and then Israel. This is better than the hudna which they have offered in the past. Zionist rejectionist will wail and gnash their teeth when they hear hudna, stressing its temporary character refusing to recognise that alot of positive things can happen during a state of non-belligerency even if it is temporary. Israel of course will reject this overture as they always do and will confirm their rejection with the announcement of another settlement going up. So much for "peacelovers".
Stuck in last is the most important issue of all. If Hamas means "a full right of return," as they've said millions of times, then their position has not changed at all and this is just words for the gullible.
you cannot peace with terror! Hamas want to make peace only to blow up all Jews the minute an agreement is signed. This is far worse than a piece of paper, this is peace in exchange for holocaust! Israel has right to defend itself against Islamic murderers and will continue to hunt them down until they are all expelled from Judea & Samaria! Israel is forever Israel, Shalom
And west bank is not within 67 borders or east-jerusalem. Or did you expect that gaza is not under same palestinian state as is west bank in future. There might be some swap of territory, but sides are not quite there yet.
Gaza is just a small part of Palestine. The state will have to include the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel's efforts to further divide and isolate Palestinians won't succeed.
Israel still illegally occupies Gaza's airspace coastal waters, and shoots to kill any Pal that gets within hundreds of yards of the border.. And Israel continues to enforce a cruel and illegal blockade preventing badly needed imports and preventing all exports.
Gaza has only self-government and therefore has no sea and airspace. Exports, imports into Gaza to go through Egypt.
One Man, One Vote, Equality for all inhabitants. Equal Pay for Equal Work, Equal Water Rights. No Apartheid, No Segregation...A Very True Secular Democrac Let us call it: “State of Holy Land”. Why should Arab East Jerusalem be subject to Israel`s apartheid system with discriminatory use of zoning laws, discrimination in permitting, discrimination in services, discrimination in courts... Palestinians of East Jerusalem must be FREE and part of Palestine.
Islamist leader Ismail Haniyeh says he would accept a deal with Israel based on 1967 borders and denies that Gaza has become a stronghold for al-Qaida.
Let a few hundred million Africans travel freely to Europe and enjoy the same rights and liberties Europeans enjoy. That is the only fair solution after what Europe have done to that continent throughout the years.
Unless you want an eternal civil war. The Palestinians will not accept a Jewish majority and the Jews will not accept an Arab majority. Stop dreaming about fantasies and get real.
that a one state solution is better.? Who will accept that nonesense? Few examples. Checks and Slovaks have nothing one against each other. Hswever, they rather live under a different sovereignty. Flemmish sooner or later will separate from Wallons. Why? Basques and catalans want a separate state from Spain. Sooner or later they will get it, let alone the Scottish. Yugoslavia could not hold together a single day after Tito has passed away. Only lunatic people that want a new Yugoslavian"style" slaughter want a one state solution. However, neither Jews nor palestinians want that nonsense. Sooner or later Israel will withdraw from most of the West Bank . Israel will annex the settlement blocs and keep for a long period of time the Jordan valley for security reasons. How do I know that this what is going to happen????? Becuase there is no force in the world that can impose Israel otherwise. Neither Hizabalh nor Iran and obviously not the United States which basically accepts Israel's "interpretation" of security reasons. Just in Koppenhaggen , Tony can be welcomed to experimentate with two, three or one state solution. Whatever he wants.
Everyone would be better off with Peace Irrespective of the final details of a definitive agreement. That should be the transcendent consideration for the political leaders.
Two days later Hamas would change its name and mention that Hamas no longer exists, and the new group's goal is no more Israel.
You just don't know how to live in a world without enemies. They're necessary for your survival and if you sense they are moving away from their position of emnity, you just have to push them back into it. Pathetic really.
you gotta be kidding, you think Palestinians are afraid of saying what they think and believe, we have fought many many empires and occupation before israel and we will say it if we want to destroy israel.