Posted on 02/26/2006 6:00:31 PM PST by Sabramerican
Haniyeh: 'Washington Post' misquoted Khaled Abu Toameh, THE JERUSALEM POST Feb. 26, 2006
Palestinian Authority Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday denied that Hamas was prepared to make peace with Israel, saying he had been misquoted by The Washington Post.
Haniyeh said his comments had been misunderstood. He said he was not referring to a peace agreement, only a "political truce."
"I didn't talk about recognizing Israel during the interview with the newspaper," Haniyeh told reporters in Gaza City.
"I only said that when Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem, and releases all the prisoners and detainees, then we would be able to talk about a long-term hudna [truce]."
Haniyeh was quoted by the Post on Saturday as saying Hamas would establish "peace in stages" if Israel would withdraw to its 1967 boundaries. It was the first time Hamas has been quoted as seeking peace with Israel.
Salah Bardawil, a spokesman for Hamas, said his movement has a recording of the interview which clearly shows that Haniyeh did not make the statements that were attributed to him.
"Haniyeh, in response to a question, said that if Israel met all of Hamas's conditons, he would be prepared to consider "peace in stages." According to the spokesman, when the reporter pressed for further clarifications, Haniyeh explained that he was talking about a long-term truce with Israel.
Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar said his movement would not cave in to pressure to recognize Israel. "Why should we recognize Israel?" he asked. "Has Israel recognized the Palestinian people or the right of return for the refugees?"
In response to reports that PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas was considering resigning because of threats by the US and the international community to boycott the PA following the Hamas victory in last month's parliamentary election, Haniyeh expressed hope that Abbas would remain in his position.
"I don't think he will resign," Haniyeh said. "Hamas will stand behind Abbas in the face of the new challenges. We want to work together with Abbas and the Palestinian Authority because we believe in dialogue."
Abbas's recurring threats to resign drew sharp criticism from some Palestinian political analysts. One of them, Ibrahim Abrash, mocked Abbas's threats, noting that in the past four years he has threatened to quit at least four times.
"These repeated threats damage Abbas's reputation," he said. "These threats make us depressed and confused."
Hamas call the Washington Post liars.
The only thing worse then the Barbarians are their enablers in the West.
ping
Well, there was something fishy about that article in the Washington Post. Now I know what it was.
It was fake.
The Washington Post is now part of CBS ? Who knew ?
Give them time. If the WaPo comes out with a statement that their article was probably fake but that the fervor over the article's inaccuracy overlooks the excellent questions raised by the article, then you know we have another CBS moment.
That or, "It may have been fake, but this reporter stands by the accuracy of his article, and the Washington Post stands behind him."
I'm certain there will be many attempts by the MSM in the months (years) to come to put lipstick on this pig. Despite what the say about wanting to drive Israel into the sea and kill all the Jews in the name of Allah, the MSM will cheerfully report that Hammas is really a bunch of fuzzy, wuzzy, misunderstood guys who just want peace. Anything to maintain the illusion that the Pallis are peace-loving, oppressed people and the "Roadmap" is working.
If you talk about Israel moving it's borders, then you are recognizing Israel. I should have been a diplomat.
I'm not sure the WashPost actually interviewed Haniyeh.
I have a sneaky suspicion they interviewed Hamas's other spokesman: Jimmy Carter in a fake beard.
The WaPo and Jimmy Carter are trying to make Hamas palatable. Nice try.
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