http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/01/20101230202291283.html
Saturday, January 23, 2010
18:42 Mecca time, 15:42 GMT
Hamas 'will not recognise Israel'
Hamas marked the end of the Israeli attack on Gaza a year ago
that killed 1,400 Palestinians [AFP]
Hamas political leader has said that his group will not recognise Israel
despite new pressures and will give priority to building resistance to the
Jewish state.
Addressing a rally in the Syrian capital on Friday to mark the end of the
Israeli attack on Gaza a year ago that killed 1,400 Palestinians, Meshaal said
Hamas does not want another war with Israel, but it will stick to armed
struggle as a means to liberate occupied land.
"Hamas will keep rejecting the occupation and refuse to recognise the
legitimacy of the Zionist entity. Priority will remain building and developing
the resistance," said Meshaal, who lives in Syria along with other Hamas
leaders in exile.
"Pressure, siege, temptations and opening doors or communication channels
will not fool Hamas, which will not compromise on the rights. Hamas will be
only tempted by restoring the land," Meshaal said.
Meshaal was referring to increased contacts between Hamas and Western
delegations since the Gaza war, including a meeting with a US group that
included Jack Matlock, a former American ambassador in Moscow.
'Gaza still wounded'
"Triumphant Gaza today is still wounded. Its houses are still destroyed.
It's still under siege and its borders are still closed. Add to this the new
steel wall," Meshaal said, referring to a structure being built by Egypt along
its border with Gaza to stop the smuggling of arms and goods into the strip.
"Today we do not seek war but if war is imposed on us we will fight
fiercely," Meshaal said.
Meshaal said reconciliation with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian
president, was needed to strengthen the Palestinian cause but he made no new
proposals on how to do so after Egyptian efforts to bring about agreement
between the two sides foundered.
Meshaal also said that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will not be
freed unless Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
"Shalit will not to home before the liberation of our prisoners," he
told the rally, blaming Israel for the failure to reach a deal on freeing the
soldier, who was captured in June 2006.
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