Posted on 01/26/2005 10:24:20 AM PST by Alouette
Ending days of speculation about whether they had agreed to a cease-fire with Israel, Hamas and Islamic Jihad on Tuesday denied that they would halt terrorist attacks "without making Israel pay a price."
Hamas leader, Khaled Mashaal, the Syria-based head of the movement's political bureau, said there would be no discussion of a truce before the Palestinians test Israel's intentions and receive assurances from the international community that Israel would halt its attacks on the Palestinians.
He described the recent talks between Hamas officials in the Gaza Strip and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as "positive."
"We agreed that the message that we should send to the international community is that the Palestinian resistance is not the problem, but it is Israel's aggression," he said. "We also agreed that our message to the Zionist enemy is that there would be no solution unless the occupation ends."
Asked if the two sides had discussed ways of calming the situation, Mashaal told the London-based daily Al-Hayat: "There is talk about calm, but a conditioned one. If the occupation meets our conditions, including ending the occupation and releasing all the prisoners, we will be prepared to consider a temporary truce."
Mashaal also denied reports about a split between the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, which is reportedly prepared to accept a truce, and the movement's hard-line leadership in Syria and Lebanon.
Hassan Yousef, Hamas's prominent West Bank leader, warned that Israel's ongoing military raids in the West Bank jeopardize efforts to calm the situation. He was referring to the arrest over the past few days by the IDF of several Hamas suspects in the Nablus, Jenin and Tulkarm areas.
"We condemn these arrests and stress that Hamas can't remain idle in the face of Israel's continued aggression against our people," Yousef said, accusing Israel of seeking to thwart attempts to end the violence.
Hamas spokesman Mushir al-Masri said that, while progress had been made during the talks with Abbas on the need for major reforms, "there is no talk about calm without a price [from Israel] and as long as the Israeli aggression on our people continues."
Masri listed his movement's conditions for accepting a temporary truce: a release of all Palestinian prisoners, an end to Israeli military operations and a withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, and the return of bodies of Palestinians killed in attacks against Israel.
"If all these conditions are met, then we will respond positively to the issue of calm," he said. "Hamas is now following the events on the ground and we will determine our position once we see if Israel fulfills these conditions."
Nafez Azzam, a senior Islamic Jihad official in the Gaza Strip, also stated that his group would not accept a unilateral cease-fire that does not include Israeli concessions.
"Our position is clear – there won't be calm from one side without gaining something in return," he said.
"We have always said that the problem lies with Israel, not the Palestinians. Israel is the aggressor and the Palestinians are only defending themselves. We want something in return [from Israel] that would convince not only Islamic Jihad, but the Palestinian people who must feel changes on the ground."
Meanwhile, sources in Ramallah told The Jerusalem Post that Abbas is expected to visit Cairo next week for talks with Egyptian officials on the possibility of holding a meeting of all Palestinian factions in the Egyptian capital to discuss a truce with Israel.
According to the sources, most of the Palestinian factions have agreed in principle to Abbas's initiative to achieve a temporary truce with Israel. "We're closer than ever to achieving a hudna [temporary truce]," said a source close to Abbas, adding that a meeting would be held soon in Cairo between top PA officials and Hamas leaders.
Gazan legislator Ziad Abu Amr, who played a key role in the recent intra-Palestinian discussions, said Hamas and Islamic Jihad have agreed to participate in July's elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council.
He said that despite denials from Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders, all Palestinian factions have agreed to calm the situation to see if Israel is willing to accept their conditions.
You know that for a fact? Then Israel could simply re-occupy.
Israel could announce, "In February, we will withdraw from territory "A". With no Palestinian attacks, we will then withdraw from territory "B" in March. No attacks? Territory "C" in April.
Israel could draw this out for years. They won't, because the settlers refuse to leave.
blackmail
It's going to take such a long time that it might stretch out into never. It will take a long time due to continuing Palestinian violence. The Gaza settlers resisting will impress Europe about how serious Israel is. If/when Israel does leave Gaza it will be done on terms favorable to Israel such as control of Gaza borders to prevent weapon's smuggling
Israel is always hoping for a miracle given the Islamization of Europe and it's Jihadist neighbors. Iran getting nuclear bombs, things get worse for Israel's continued existence. Europe is demanding that the Muslims be thrown a bone and Gaza will be it.... but over a long time period... the drama of withdrawal will be stretched out for years.
Israel is not an island. It depends on European goodwill and trade to stay afloat. You have any better suggestions than shedding Gaza? Which is a pain in the ass anyhow and not part of biblical Israel?
I never saw a country in such a hurry to succumb to terrorism in exchange for the most illusionary peace. It is too late to blame Sharon, Peres, etc. The Israelis knew what they were getting when Sharon announced during the election campaign that Israel would make painful concessions for a Palestinian state. Worse this has all been tried before with disastrous results. To keep walking into a wall despite the fact that it hurt the last time you did it is the classic definition of stupidity."
EXACTLY. Part of it is our influence on their politics. We in the US held them back time and time again on doing what has got to be done. It is ugly, but it is also a reality.
I thought a cease fire WAS a concession. In one breath these people say the IDF is slaughtering them by the hundreds, the next minute they say a cease fire gives them nothing. Which is it?
Excellent point.
"Hamas will never make peace with Israel. The only solution is to continue efforts to wipe out high-ranking members of Hamas and gut their organizational structure to the point that they are unable to present a credible threat to the Israeli people."Thank you that is truth!!!!!
Yes!!! You are correct!
He didn't obey God and we are dealing with the consequences of that disobedience ever since.
Same as with Eve.
I know...........I hated to have to say that! ;-)
Actually, Adam.
Then you are saying they are going through with the eviction of Jews from Gaza. Nobody is denying that Gaza will belong to the Arabs, the question is whether Arabs who cannot live with 8 thousand Jews in their midst will ever live with 6 million Jews in their midst.
bttt
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