Source: Haaretz & Reuters 11-01-2007
Hamas denied Wednesday that its Damascus-based political chief Khaled Meshal told Reuters in an interview that his group would consider recognizing "Israel" once a Palestinian state is established.
One hour after the Reuters interview was published, the Hamas government spokesman Ghazi Hamad told Haaretz that Meshal said, "`Israel` exists - and that`s a fact."
However, Hamad maintained that Meshal did not say anything about recognizing "Israel". "There was no change in our stance that Hamas does not recognize "Israel"," he said.
Salah Bardawil, head of Hamas` parliamentary faction, told Haaretz that after checking with Meshal, it seems to be that his words were twisted and distorted.
"He didn`t speak about any recognition of `Israel`, only a cease-fire with `Israel`," Bardawil said.
Meshal, who is considered Hamas` main power broker, told Reuters: "`Israel` is a `reality`" and "there will remain a state called `Israel`, this is a matter of fact."
The problem was not "Israel`s" existence but the failure to establish a state for Palestinians, said Meshal, whose party leads the Palestinian government.
"The distant future will have its own circumstances and positions could be determined then," he said. Past concessions to "Israel" by Palestinian negotiators went unrewarded, he argued, and his Islamic group would drive hard bargains over key issues such as recognition.
"For "Israel" to suck us into bargains in stages and in packages - this road constitutes an attempt to weaken the Palestinian position."
"Israel" and Western governments have put financial sanctions on the Hamas-led Palestinian government for refusing to recognize "Israel", renounce violence and accept past peace accords. Egypt has also been stepping up pressure on Hamas to recognize "Israel".
Meshal said Hamas would defy the Western conditions and refuse to consider granting formal recognition to "Israel" until its demand for a Palestinian state was met.
Hamas wants a Palestinian state that includes Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem (al-Quds) and the right of Palestinian refugees to return to homes lost in the 1967 Six Day War and before, Meshal said.
"As a Palestinian today I speak of a Palestinian and Arab demand for a state on 1967 borders. It is true that in reality there will be an entity or state called "Israel" on the rest of Palestinian land," said Meshal.
"This is a reality but I won`t deal with it in terms of recognizing or admitting it," he added.
Israel delays Gilad Shalit`s release
Meshal also blamed "`Israeli` intransigence" for the delay in a deal to release captured "Israeli" soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for thousands of Palestinian prisoners. Shalit`s father Noam said Wednesday he would be willing to turn himself over to his son`s captors if they release the captured soldier.
"The message must reach Gilad Shalit`s family that "Israel" bears the responsibility for prolonging his captivity," Meshal said. "There had been real progress and Egypt is making a positive effort but regrettably the talks stumbled in the last few days because of "Israeli" intransigence," Meshal said.
"We are keen to release Shalit as soon as possible, but only in return for `Israel` releasing a number of our men, women, children and Palestinian leaders in its jails," he said.
Meshal said Shalit was being given "good treatment."
"The international community is concerned for one `Israeli` soldier called Gilad Shalit and has memorized his name," Meshal said. "It must show concern for the suffering of 11,000 Palestinian prisoners who include 400 children and 120 women."