Meshaal: Hamas to uphold resistance

Source: alalam.ir, 23-01-2008
DAMASCUS -Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal has said that Palestinians would continue to target the occupied lands with rockets until the "Israeli" occupying regime ended its onslaught in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.
In an interview with Reuters, Meshaal said that the resistance is dealing with aggressive Zionist behavior.
"We are dealing with aggressive Zionist behavior. Let "Israel" stop its aggression and its occupation of Palestinian land and the resistance, including rockets, will stop", he said.
Meshaal said international pressure that forced "Israeli" regime to resume fuel deliveries to a power plant in Gaza should continue until the blockade was removed.
"This immoral and inhumane siege has been going on for months. The Arabs must take responsibility as well and not leave the Palestinians alone," Meshaal said, referring to the repeated closures of a crossing to Egypt.
Asked about what Hamas critics call the futility of armed struggle against "Israel", Meshaal said there was no other way to force the occupying regime to relinquish occupied land.
"A diplomatic effort without strong cards and Palestinian unity that does away with resistance lacks the basis for success," Meshaal said, referring to peace talks with "Israel" led by Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas.
The talks were launched after the Annapolis peace conference, which was hosted by the United States in November.
"These talks are useless with "Israel" insisting on holding on to the big settlements, refusing to respect the 1967 line and the refugees' right of return," he said.
Meshaal repeated his call on Abbas to accept unconditional talk with Hamas to solve differences between the two groups that have led to violence and two administrations in Gaza and the West bank.
"It is time to turn the page on the peace talks and reach consensus on a new strategy that forces "Israel" to return Palestinian land," Meshaal said.
Palestinian groups opposed to the peace talks, including Hamas, will hold a large meeting in Damascus on Wednesday.
Organizers said the conference, which will be also attended by a number of independent and national Palestinian figures, will issue a call for unity.
"We have no option but to hold on to national rights and sit on the table to solve the internal Palestinian crisis," he said.
Meanwhile, Mussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Political Bureau of Hamas, has urged the Palestinian Authority to put an end to talks with the "Israeli" occupation regime.
Marzouk cited Zionist atrocities in Gaza Strip and the West Bank and called on PA Chief Mahmud Abbas to stop negotiations.