Meshal: Israel is the main obstacle to Mideast peace
In an interview with Charlie Rose, Hamas leader says that Israel, U.S. are responsible for standstill in talks to release Gilad Shalit.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel news Hamas Gilad Shalit Khaled Meshal Middle East peaceHamas political leader Khaled Meshal spoke out on Friday against American support of Israel and said that the Hamas was not against the United States but rather against its bias in favor of Israel, and stated Israel as the main obstacle to peace in the Middle East.
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Khaled Meshal |
"We don’t have a problem whatsoever with the United States, nor with the American interests," Meshal told U.S. broadcast journalist and acclaimed interviewer Charlie Rose. "America is a great state; it is a superpower and its right to keep its interests, but its interests shouldn’t be at the expense of others and the people of the region."
"Israel is the obstacle in the face of peace in the region and the United States of America, morally and politically, has to deal with this reality and not put pressure on the Palestinian or the Arab side," Meshal argued.
Meshal also criticized the U.S. for not holding direct talks with the Hamas and questioned whether U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell could succeed in his mission to bring peace to the region without the Hamas.
"I think that the United States of America should have direct dialogue with Hamas without mediators, because the United States is a major state, and it shouldn't fear Israel, and it should have dialogue with all concerned parties in the region," Meshal said. "Why does he [George Mitchell] believe that he will succeed in the Palestinian issue without dialogue with Hamas?"
"Why did the American administration accept the Israeli election regardless of the results, it accepted [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, it accepted extremists like [Foreign minister Avigdor] Lieberman, to be the head of the diplomacy, and did not accept Hamas," he added and called this a "double standard."
Hamas was elected into power in the Gaza strip in 2007. The Palestinian secular Fatah movement, headed by Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, did not accept the religious party's rulein Gaza. The U.S. and the European Union both consider the Hamas a terrorist organization and do not directly talk to its leaders.
Meshal told Rose that he condemned any violence against citizens all over the world, and added that he did not support terrorist attacks, promising that once the occupation of Arab land around the world ceased and Israel withdraw back to the 1967 borders, so would the attacks.
"There is an outrage in the Arab world and the Muslim world about the Israeli crimes and the Israeli occupation, and about the American biased politics in favor of Israel and the American and European policies against the interests of the Arabs and in favor of Israel, "Meshal said.
"The overall feeling in the Muslim world is that the Americans are supporting Israel," he added. "If we are to really stop such operations [terrorist attacks] we have to have a just solution for the cause of Palestine and to stop the occupation in Iraq and in Afghanistan."
The Hamas leader urged the U.S. to provide his militant movement with technologically advance missiles "so we can use them very accurately against military targets and not civilians," and denied that Hamas hides its rockets amongst civilians.
When asked regarding abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by the Hamas since 2006, Meshal shifted the blame for the standstill in the talks for his release onto "Netanyahu and his smaller government," and the U.S.
"Unfortunately, the American administration had a negative influence in delaying the exchange agreement because it requested Netanyahu not to have the agreement in order not to make Hamas stronger and weaken Mahmoud Abbas,' he said, quoting Noam Shalit, Gilad's father.
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Fine logic by annihilationist Meshal
....as the nation-state of the Jewish people. Perhaps we, Jews, should just disappear, commit a collective suicide and peace will reign throughout the region and across the world..., right...?? Not a chance!!! Never again!!!
The only main obstacle to peace is that the Arabs want everything Israel has and they do not want Israel there. The Arabs are willing to give up nothing. IF you want true middle east peace get rid of kingdoms and create Arab democracy's. Open Arab lands to other peoples. IF you truly wanted peace you would be willing to do what you are asking Israel to do.
That obstacle was not there before 1948, was it peaceful then? I watch Charlie Rose all the time and this time he was a disappointment. Resolving issues is not in the Hamas interest. Only the ongoing conflicts assures the Hamas's job security.
I have not kept a record of the amount of times that i have asked this question and still have not had a reply. If all the fighting going on is about the 1967 occupation...then what was the reason for the slaughtering of the "Palestinian" Jews before 1967 ? Please someone answer and convince me I am wrong to support Israel.
Meshaal is absolutely correct, to the extent that, if Israel's enemies lay down their weapons, there will be peace. But if Israel lays down its weapons, there will be genocide, and the peace of the grave for those who defy the authority of Meshaal and/or his murderous ilk.
3rd Israel: Stop Blocade - Not yet 4th Hamas: Free Gilad- Not yet; 5th Israel: Free Hamas Prisoners - not yet 6th Hamas: Make One Islamic state - not yet 7th Islam here, there everywhere
What a terrible performance by Charlie Rose. This was not an interview. It was a monologue by the head of a terrorist organization. Rose did not contradict him on any of the lies that were offered up as facts. Wash that hand that shook Meshal's Charlie. It has the blood of innocent civilians on it...
I suppose you do not. He is normal as usual.
That speaks volumes, the Hamas top wanted for extra-judiciary assassination guy seems more sane and peace willing than most of the Israeli cabinet and its delusional PR talking heads. I will blame voters.
Why do people have such problem's with the facts of the situation: Israel continues to offer compromises such as leaving Gaza while Hamas launches missles at Israel's population. No missles from Gaza = no Operation Cast lead.
He's lying and you're buying it! Hamas wants nothing more than to kill all the Jews.
This man speaks the truth and only the truth.Well Said from the democratically elected government of Hamas
Stacey, feel secure in knowing that you support a terrorist. What is happening in your personal life to have made you support the side of hatred for Israeli and Jews?
If the world is with Meshal, why did the world cut off funds to Hamas until Hamas recognizes Israel, rejects violence, and abides by prior Palestinian Authority agreements?
This lying murderer should be isolated by all. Now he wants to sound like a Statesman. He brings up Lieberman ?? Lieberman is human, who speaks the truth. This guy is a beast who tells innocent Palestinians to blow up innocent Israelis and get the 72 virgins in heaven as reward. Just ask Youssef's son what Hamas is and their sub-human culture. They should be quarantined from the world community. Maybe a zoo is in order.
He says"United States of America, morally and politically, has to deal with this reality" . Mr. Meshaal : why only this reality? How about the existance of Israel? If you come to term with this, there could be a new window of opportunity
and calls Israeli retaliations as actions destabilizing peace in the ME. Poor,innocent victims.
Britain negotiated with the IRA in order to settle the conflict in Northern Ireland. Israel negotiated with the PLO in order to bring them in and install them over the Palestinians when it became clear during the First Intifada that the alternative would be Hamas. Whom to negotiate with is not in the moral code but in the political code. Whether or not to negotiate with Hamas is primarily a political question. The Russians are doing it because it makes sense for them. Should Israel negotiate with Hamas? They will be very tough negotiators, so if there is a better alternative, I would choose the other one TODAY. (Perhaps tomorrow circumstances will change.) I would reach a deal with Abbas and the PLO, get West-Bankers to approve it in a referendum, then destroy the Hamas regime in Gaza (either by helping the PLO and other Arab states do it or have the IDF do it), have Abbas take over Gaza, and live happily ever after.
the US president should be free from any arm's pulling.
the US president should be free from any arm's pulling.
Hamas charter makes it clear what they seek- genocide. Israel has no such ambitions or charter. The exchange of murderers of woman and children for one soldier - held captive with no rights- is not justice and is not acceptable. Blackmail it is not anything else.
including the caveat, which disproves your theory completely
"Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it" don't you understand, CJ? It's best that you UNDERSTAND the whole charter.
Hamas leader says stop all occupation in region and no more terrorist attacks. I believe him.
You may believe him but most importantly, the IDF does not.
He is right. Just remove Israel from the region and there will be immediate peace between The Shia and the Sunny, between the Muhammadin ant the Caliphates between the secular Arabs and the religious one, oh yes, peace between Ham-ass and the PLO, between Christian Arabs and Muslim Arabs, between the Saudis and the Hashemite, between Kurds and Turks, between Iraq and Iran, Between Saudi and some of the Yemenites… Yes he is right, this peace loving Haled.
Bravo! Great use of sarcasm!
this men is not against anyone,aslong as they think and let them supres by his hamafia. he is responsible for the killings of thousends of fatah members. and hear him speak now ... save in syria keeping the war against israel and his own "brother" on. this men is so full of him self that he believes in his own lies
It has always been a "Hudna" know what that is? After the Wall, and after the Golan, after the roadblocks and East Jerusalem and the Right of Return for over a million Palestinians Israel will implode and if not, there will be War. Don't you get it?
Since when has there ever been a "Palestinian State?" I guess I haven't read the right history text book.
Noel, you fell for Meshaal's horse maneure HOOK, LINE, and SINKER. You are a fool to believe this murderer.
I don't, nor do my family and millions of Jewish families around the Globe. Please try not to speak on our behalf. Many of us may despise the Settlers but they are not the obstacle to Peace.
Only the international anti-semites, the Muslim world and the emotionally damaged self hating Jewish Leftists think that Israel is THE obstacle to peace.
Right. Everyone but the Arabs whose relentless propaganda has resulted in most of the world taking their talking points as the truth. They are, in fact, a bunch of lies. The intrasigence of the Arabs is the main obstacle to peace. The Arabs don't want peace. They want Israel to roll over and die. Period.
Everyone knows Israel was not there before 1948 what was the main obstacle to peace then?
Meshal meshal not be moved, Meshal Meshal Meshal not be moved just like a tree planted by the riverside meshal not be moved. Meshal You are the problem mate
I see you're into African-American spirituals.
Hamas refuses to recognize Israel, refuses to talk to any Israeli (except maybe Amira Hass), and has as its one and only goal: the total destruction of Israel, the annihilation of its citizens, and taking over the whole country. And Israel is to blame? For what? For not disappearing?
The main obstacle to peace is Arabs wanting something that does not belong to them. When they realize that and move on to their Arab counries and accept Israel as a Jewish state peace will follow.
Israel already has it's own Sovereign territory. It has never legally annexed ANY territory in 62 years. When it ends occupation and withdraws to it's actual Sovereign boundaries, there will be a chance at peace.
CJ, They left Gaza and have missles being shot at them. They will only leave the West Bank with security guarantees. Sorry to inform the world, but Israel will not commit national suicide.
Last time I looked, "Palestinians" were Jews and Arabs until 1948. How did they suddenly become exclusively Arab and have all the rights to the territories?
"..once the occupation of Arab land around the world ceased and Israel withdraw back to 1967 borders, so would the attacks. "
For them, southern Spain is Arab land, let alone Haifa and Tel Aviv. Hence, attacks will never stop. The Shaba farms are a nice example of that. They just will find an excuse to keep on going with the killing.
Except, the land had BOTH Arabs and Jews living on it. When was it ever exclusively Arab land, dumdum?
Or else you are a fool