Hamas and Israel

Hamas Sets Conditions For Recognizing Israel
(Ikhwan web) - Gaza, palestine
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Ismail Haniyah, the Palestinian prime minister-designated said Hamas does not 'wish to throw Israel in the sea' and is 'ready to recognize Israel' if admits the full rights of Palestinians and their state on 1967 territories, including the West Bank and the East Jerusalem. "Let Israel recognize the legitimate rights of Palestinians first and then we will have a position regarding this," Haniyeh told Washington Post in a conversation published on its web site. However, Haniyeh did not take about the form of this recognition. Hamas whose convention calls for the destruction of Israel refused to hold talks with the Jewish state for 'they are mere waste of time'. Nevertheless, it said recently that it may accept some aspects of prior peace agreements which it wholly opposed in the past. Haniyeh added that Hamas is ready to hold talks with Israel if it withdraws from the West Bank and East Jerusalem and admits the right of return of Palestinian refuges, left in 1948 War, and their grandchildren. "Let Israel says it will recognize 1967-borderes Palestinian state, release prisoners, and recognize the rights of the refugees to return to Israel, Hamas will have a position if this occurs," Hamas new prime minister added. "If Israel withdraws to the '67 borders, then we will establish a peace in stages…We will establish a situation of stability and calm which will bring safety for our people," he remarked.