Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal sought to clarify Saturday remarks published in the British daily The Guardian, saying he does not believe Israel should conduct cease-fire talks with Hamas in order to bring an end to the incessant Qassam rocket fire that has plagued the western Negev town.
"During the interview I said that I believe we must not talk to Hamas, and that the Israeli government must not talk to Hamas," said Moyal.
"The reporter asked me what I would be willing to due for the residents of Sderot in order to stop this situation, and I answered that, as a citizen, and in order to defend the lives of Sderot residents, I would be willing to go anywhere and talks to Hamas, and with the devil himself. Moyal was quoted as telling The Guardian that he would be willing to negotiate directly with Hamas in an effort to reach a cease-fire and halt the near daily barrages of Qassam rockets that have plagued his town.
"I would say to Hamas, let's have a cease-fire, let's stop the rockets for the next 10 years and we will see what happens," Moyal, who is officially a member of the Likud, was quoted as saying. "For me as a person the most important thing is life and I'm ready to do everything for that. I'm ready to talk to the devil."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/957089.html