Posted on 06/27/2006 11:25:11 AM PDT by areafiftyone
Rival Palestinian political factions Fatah and Hamas have reached agreement on a common political strategy to try to end a damaging power struggle.
However, as details of the deal have emerged early reports that Hamas had implicitly agreed to recognise Israel appear unfounded, correspondents say.
The full text of the deal has not yet been released, but early drafts make no mention of Israel's right to exist.
The deal comes amid heightened tension over the capture of an Israeli soldier.
The BBC's James Reynolds in Jerusalem says that the central point of the joint manifesto is the creation of a Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Traditionally that is one half of a two-state solution, but the existing drafts of the deal make no mention of the second half of this solution - the state of Israel.
This omission is deliberate, our correspondent says.
While some have argued that this means Hamas tacitly accepts Israel's right to exist, it is becoming clear that that is not how Hamas sees it.
Hamas negotiators have told the BBC that the entire state of Israel has been built on occupied Palestinian land. They believe that a Palestinian state on the West Bank and Gaza is a first step - not a final step.
They believe that future generations of Palestinians will reclaim all their historic homeland. And that, in the end, there will be no room for what is now the Jewish state of Israel.
Palestinian minister, Abdul Rahman Zidan, told the BBC the document did not in any way recognise the state of Israel:
"This is an internal agreement between the Palestinians. There is no agreement between the Palestinians on specifically this phrase. You will not find one word in the document clearly stating the recognition of Israel as a state. Nobody has agreed to this. This was not on the table. This was not in the dialogue," he said.
How much more of our tax dollars will our government give them?
That didn't take long. Israel can now invade with a clear conscience.
Time to cut off PA funding.
this is crap
meaningless hot air
It's on like Donkey Kong.
Articles on Israel can also be found by clicking on the Topic or Keyword Israel.
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Hamas still hard line despite deal [we accept a state but we did not say we accept two states]
We said we accept a state [in territory occupied] in 1967 - but we did not say we accept two states.
Hamas legislator Salah Al Bardaweel
The document included a clear clause referring to the non-recognition of the legitimacy of [Israel]
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
I thought we stopped giving them money until they recognized Israel. I know we are still giving food and stuff but Money?
Iran's picking up the slack for us. Cash drops daily.
SSDD
Exactly. No more hiding in the weeds, unfortunately Iran and others will be supplying the Palis.
It'll be hard not to recognize them when their tanks roll all over Gaza lookign for their kidnapped soldier.
"People of Gaza, pay no attention to the very large tanks crushing your homes, they do not exist and neither does the country they come from."
Shocka!!!!!
""While some have argued that this means Hamas tacitly accepts Israel's right to exist, it is becoming clear that that is not how Hamas sees it.""
"Some" = Guardian reading lefties who fantasies of identification with the Palestinians is weaker than their loathing of people associated with religion.
How absurd.
Israel has the same "right to exist" as any state - they can keep any territory that they can conquer and defend.
The last people on earth who should be asked about a "right to exist" for Israel are the Pallies - they're against it.
Why don't the Israelis get this?
From the Hamas Press Office:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
We, the members of the resistance against the Zionist N@zi entity that starts with the letter "I", being the only true Freedom Fighters for the Palestinian cause of removing the filthy Jewish presence from all the land that begins with the letter "I", do hereby declare, on our honour, that we recognize the monkey Zionist N@zi entity that begins with the letter "I". Please disregard the Arabic portions of this press release which seem to imply that we will continue to all Jews, wherever we find them in accordance with the Hamas Charter, which we will never renounce until all Jews are , or we are, whichever comes first.
Who cares if they recognize Israel or not? Its like the bloods or crips not recognizing the police.
Surely no surprise here. Now, on with the job of defending themselves by which I hope they eliminate a large enemy constituency. . .
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