Hamas: We'll move toward peace if Israel leaves occupied lands

DAMASCUS, Syria - Hamas could reciprocate moves toward peace if Israel agrees to withdraw from all lands occupied in 1967 and recognizes Palestinian rights, the group's leader Khaled Meshal said on Wednesday.

Meshal told a packed auditorium at Damascus University, however, that did not think Israel would be likely to make such commitments in the foreseeable future, leaving the Palestinians no option but to continue to resist occupation.

"If Israel withdrew to the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, acknowledges the right of return, lifts its siege, dismantles the settlements and the wall and releases the prisoners, then it is possible for us as Palestinians and Arabs to make a serious step to match the Zionist step," Meshal said.

"Anything ahead of this is hypothetical; the main Israeli
parties have four objections: they are unanimous in their rejection of the 1967 borders, Jerusalem, the right of return and dismantling the settlements, so there is no chance for a compromise," added Meshal, who has been in exile in Syria for years.


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Drat, I was just about to join the paranoid hysteria about Hamas being eliminationist.

:sarcasm:

...their proposal is bullshit and completely one-sided!

that every conciliatory remark they've made since taken power, they've subsequently disavowed or denied.

...it seems some, though, only like to read the title of threads.

Personally, I think this article is bullshit to the n-th degree! Israel withdrew from Gaza, even made it "Jew-free," and still the missiles rain down! I don't believe that Hamas, the terrorists and liars that they are, will EVER follow through with anything the "propose!"

"you might want to add in addition" would have been better, I meant to supplement your post, not contradict it.

you guys are so utterly out of your depth on this stuff, it's sad.

:eyes:

please educate us, O wise one

or maybe surreal would be a better term

Hamas just tried to assasinate an opposition leader (Abbas). So the Hamasians(?) have room to talk about breaking the law?

Let's not forget also that all the Arab states who attacked Israel defied international law and revoked their lay to the land. Israel has broken the law but only in self-preservation.

EDIT: I'm not sure if this Hamas assasination attempt is proven yet. We'll see. Sorry if it's wrong.

hamas complying with international law!!

the UN resolutions give Israel a right to safe and secure borders. they also do not say that jerusalem goes to the palestinians. Furthermore the "Right of return" to israel proper by palestinians is a non starter. that would effectively destroy Israel. What should be done is monetary compensation given to the original owners of the property, based on land values. But at the same time compensation must be given to the jews driven out of arab lands.

or better yet Alaska??

again and again and it's a frickin' joke. They have done nothing to demonstrate their good faith and they demand to have everything on their own terms and are not willing to give anything in return.

In the meantime, they continue to lob rockets at Israel and cry foul when Israel defends itself.

None of these "requests" are going to happen and they damn well know it.

It's all just cheap drama to make their people think they have more power than they actually do.

Hamas was elected so the Pal leadership could attempt to "move the goalposts" with regards to the peace negotiations.

But everybody should be on to the game by now. The only thing that's changed is the players.

"right of return" that is always the stopper. In other words, if Israel surrenders, we will negotiate a face-saving way for them to submit to genocide. They always try to slip that in with some other demands that could be met.

Israel should simply go ahead with whatever unilateral moves it needs to make until the Palestinians decide to hop on board and try and salvage what they can. But whatever steps that have been taken up to that time should be irreversible and not on the negotiating table.