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"We are willing to form an army
like every independent country though we are still under
occupation," said Meshaal.
(Reuters)
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CAIRO, January 28, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) Hamas
leader Khaled Meshaal on Saturday, January 28, held out a hand to
vanquished Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) for a
national partnership serving the welfare of the Palestinian people,
asserting that resistance in no way contradicts the political
game.
"Our top priority now is consulting with Fatah and Abu
Mazen who helped render the Palestinian legislative elections a success to
reach a national partnership," Meshaal told a press conference in the
Syrian capital Damascus, two days after his group swept the polls.
"We are not in an awkward situation or a weak position
to seek such a partnership, but we need each other to serve our people and
cause and not to achieve personal gains."
Meshaal asserted that the electoral victory came as no
surprise to his group, attributing it to "well organization and good
planning."
Hamas swept the parliamentary elections, winning 76
seats in the 133-seat Palestinian Legislative Council, nearly 57.6 percent
of the seats up for grabs.
Under the law, President Abbas must ask the largest
party in the new parliament to form the next government.
Much Ado
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Meshaal urged Hamas supporters to
hold low-profile celebrations and respect feelings of defeated Fatah
activists. (Reuters)
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Meshaal said there is too much ado about an internal
Palestinian crisis, though admitting tensions with Fatah.
"I dont want to play down current tensions between
Fatah and Hamas," said the Hamas leader.
Clashes were reported Friday between Fatah and Hamas
activists in the Gaza Strip.
Furious Fatah supporters stormed their way into the
Gaza
parliament compound Friday, setting a number of cars ablaze and
calling for the Fatah leadership to step down following the humiliating
defeat.
Meshaal urged jubilant followers and supporters of his
group "to hold low-profile celebrations to respect the feelings of their
brothers in Fatah and allow no room for complacency."
Meshaal asserted that Hamas will swing into action and
introduce promised reforms in the Palestinian political system, to put the
Palestinian house in order.
"We will not go on a rampage of sacking Fatah
employees in the government despite complaints from Hamas youths of
compulsory dismissal by the outgoing government of Fatah," he
asserted.
"We will rather turn a new leaf with our brothers in
Fatah as we are responsible now for all the Palestinians."
Many members of the Palestinian security forces,
largely comprised of Fatah faithful, are fearful of losing their jobs or
seeing their salaries cut after Fatah lost the election and grip on
power.
No Hurry
Meshaal said Hamas would be in no hurry to form the
new Palestinian government.
"We refuse to be pressed for time," he said. "In world
democracies, it takes the victorious party weeks and even months to form a
government."
A confident Meshaal said parties who are dream that
his group would fail in its new role are "wrong".
"We have succeeded in the resistance and we will
succeed in politics, reforms and change," he said emphatically.
The Hamas leader said the new government will be an
"amalgam of technocrats and qualified people whether from Hamas, Fatah or
other parties."
"We have been chosen by our people and we assume our
responsibility."
Palestinian Army
Meshaal further maintained that there is no
contradiction between the armed struggle against occupation and
politics.
"I tell the Americans and the Europeans, who consider
resistance terrorism and demand us to disarm, that we are ready to merge
armed factions including Hamass military wing to form an army to defend
the Palestinian people," he said.
"We are willing to form an army like every independent
country though we are still under occupation...an army to defend our
people against aggression," said the Hamas leader.
"Resistance is a right enshrined by divine books and
international laws and any people under occupation have every right to
self-defense until they liberate the homeland."
Meshaal said Hamas would not make any concessions on
key issues like the return of refugees and borders.
Just Peace
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Gilad said Israel will not allow Hamas MPs to
travel freely between the Gaza Strip and West
Bank .
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Asked whether he was ready to shake hands with Israeli
leaders, Meshaal said Hamas wants just peace and is ready to make peace
with anyone, who respects the Palestinians' inalienable rights.
"But Israel has shown no sign of
rapprochement over the past years and we took the initiative of not
targeting civilians, but the Israelis went on bombarding our people and
assassinating our leaders," he said.
The Hamas leader dismissed claims that his group was
responsible for the Palestinians' problems.
"Even during the time of (Yasser) Arafat and Abu Mazen
the political process was blocked. There is a political, security and
economic crisis. Hamas will strive to resolve them.
Meshaal had a message for the Israeli people ahead of
the March general elections.
"I urge the Israeli voters not to be deceived and
misled by their leaders
no leader including [comatose Prime Minister
Ariel] Sharon can provide you with security even if they are supported by
the US as long as the occupation endures."
Israel said Saturday it will not allow
Hamas MPs to travel freely between the Gaza Strip and West Bank .
Amos Gilad, advisor to Israeli Defense Minister Shaul
Mofaz, told public radio that should Meshaal would be "arrested
immediately should he enter a zone under Israeli control".
He did not, however, indicate what would happen if
Meshaal were to travel to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing
with Egypt, which is controlled by Palestinian and Egyptian security
forces.
Not Beggars
Meshaal played down American and European threats to
strip Palestinians of economic assistance.
"We are not beggars and will not beg their aid," he
said defiantly.
"The international community has the moral
responsibility of aiding a people under occupation; however, we will not
beg for their money," Meshaal added.
"We call on Muslim and Arab countries to help us in
the days ahead to do without foreign aid," said the Hamas leader.
US President George W. Bush on Friday warned of cuts
in US aid to the Palestinians if Hamas does not dissolve its armed wing
and renounce threats against Israel .
Before the elections, EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier
Solana warned that if Hamas wins the polls, it will be "very difficult
that help and the money that goes to ... the Palestinian Authority will
continue to flow".
The EU is the biggest donor to the Palestinian
Authority, with aid of 500 million euros ($612 million) last year.
"We call on the US and the
Europeans to respect the free choice of the Palestinian people and
practice what they preach," Meshaal said.
He asserted that Hamas will not bow to the dictations
of the US
or other parties.
"We welcome talks with the Americans and the Europeans
based on the new reality and the democratic results of the elections. If
elections results in indication, our Christian brothers have chosen us in
Gaza
."
