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Hamas Will Not Recognize Israel or Disarm

(New York Times)Craig S. Smith - Hamas's most prominent leader in Gaza and the West Bank, Mahmoud Zahar, said Wednesday that his faction would still refuse to recognize Israel or disarm even if it won in the Palestinian elections this month. "The calmness has ended," Zahar said, but he left open the possibility that Hamas might refrain from attacks on Israel "if not provoked." He said that if Hamas won the election on Jan. 25, it would not recognize agreements between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but would work with Fatah in forming a new government. Zahar said that Hamas would not give up its weapons, but that as a partner in government it would support the inclusion of all militias in a unified army that would disarm Palestinian clans fighting among themselves. Nor did he exclude the possibility of renewed attacks inside Israel. Zahar said Israel's withdrawal from Gaza had vindicated Hamas's policy of violent attacks, including the use of suicide bombers. "They escaped from Gaza," he said. "This was not an Israeli gift." Zahar also rejected any connection between Hamas and al-Qaeda.
2006-01-09 00:00:00
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