Hamas Slams US Over Embargo

Source: Alalam.ir, 24-2-2007
CAIRO, Egypt--The political leader of Hamas said on Friday that the movement will not change its position and blamed the United States for the failure of the international community to lift the crippling financial embargo on the Palestinians.
Speaking to reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Cairo, Mashaal criticized the meeting this week in Berlin, Germany, of the Middle East peace negotiators--the US, UN, EU and Russia--for failing to lift the embargo on the Palestinians.
Mashaal blasted Washington`s stand to postpone any decisions about lifting the blockade until the Hamas-Fatah power sharing government takes hold.
"The postponement ... is an evidence that the American position is not convincing,`` said Mashaal.
US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice in Berlin reiterated the Quartet`s demand that any new Palestinian government must recognize the Zionist regime, something Hamas has refused to do.
"We will not bend to the American stick. The Americans should change their position,`` said Mashaal. "We will not change our position whatever time it will take.``
"Unjust conditions have been imposed on us and they (the Quartet) are pouring more fuel on the fire,`` Mashaal said.
He urged all Arab countries to support the Hamas-Fatah power-sharing deal brokered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, earlier this month and help the Palestinians with funds. "Arabs are capable of breaking the blockade, there is Arab money that we want to get into Palestine, the money is there, we demand to get it in,`` he said.
Egypt, which has welcomed the Mecca agreement, has acted as the main broker between Hamas and the Zionist regime in pressing for Shalit`s release.
Asked about efforts to free the "Israeli" soldier, Mashall said Hamas was working "with our Egyptian brother and I cannot say more than that at this stage.``