WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Posted on 12/04/2004 6:08:39 PM PST by SmithL
Islamic Jihad leader in the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Al-Hindi, said Saturday that his group would not agree to a temporary ceasefire (hudna) "of any length" with Israel, "as long as the Zionist enemy occupies Palestinian lands."
Al-Hindi added that Islamic Jihad was rejecting all talk of ceasefire "as long as the circumstances that led to the death of the late leader Yasser Arafat are still unclear, and we do not know if he died by poisoning or from radiation."
"On the light of the numerous statements on ceasefire or truce, the Islamic Jihad rejects even discussing this issue and talking about either a short- or long-term truces," al Hindi told reporters in Gaza.
"This is the clear position as long as the attacks are continued against our people and the Palestinian territories, the latest aggression was Friday's assassination of Islamic Jihad militant in Jenin," he said.
Hamas split on truce proposal
Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official in Lebanon, on Saturday dismissed reports that his movement may accept a long-term truce with Israel.
Hamdan was commenting on statements made by two senior Hamas officials in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Hassan Yousef and Mahmoud Zahar, who said over the weekend that the Islamic movement may accept a 10-year hudna (temporary truce) with Israel.
The contradictory statements by the Hamas officials, Palestinian analysts note, reflect a deepening rift between the movement's local leadership, which appears to have softened its policies, and the leaders abroad, who remain opposed to any truce with Israel.
According to the analysts, the Hamas leadership in Syria and Lebanon will eventually have the final say on the issue of a truce with Israel.
Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath hailed the new Hamas position as a "positive step" and said the movement informed the PA of its policy during recent talks.
"Hamas has not changed its policy," Hamdan insisted. "I don't think they [Yousef and Zahar] said the things attributed to them."
Yousef, in an interview with The Associated Press, said that if Israel removed settlements from the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Hamas could acknowledge Israel's right to exist in peace and security.
He said he envisions a truce in which Israel and a Palestinian state "live side-by-side in peace and security for a certain period."
"For us a truce means that two warring parties live side-by-side in peace and security for a certain period and this period is eligible for renewal," Yousef said. "That means Hamas accepts that the other party will live in security and peace."
However, on Saturday Yousef retracted his statement, saying it was premature to talk about a truce at this stage. "It's too early to talk about a cease-fire," he explained. "We must focus now on reorganizing the Palestinian home. This should be the top priority."
Zahar too did not rule out the possibility of a conditioned truce with Israel.
"Israel is responsible for all the violence in the area, and we are in a position of self-defense," he said after meeting in Gaza City with PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday night.
"If the Israelis stop their aggression against the Palestinian people, I think that through negotiations we can reach a final agreement."
He said Hamas would begin negotiations with Fatah representatives next week over halting attacks on Israel ahead of the Palestinian presidency elections, slated for January 9.
Hamas, which has called on its followers to boycott the elections, pledged that it will not disrupt the vote. It has also said that it will work with a new Palestinian leadership after the elections.
Hani al-Masri, a commentator for the PA's daily Al-Ayyam, said Hamas was weakened by its listing as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union. Those listings led to asset freezes that dealt a strong blow to the movement's finances.
Hamas, which has also been weakened by the killing of its top leaders, including Ahmed Yassin, could not survive if it did not change, he said.
"Hamas' conflicting statements illustrate the movement lacks a clear political program," remarked Palestinian political analyst Adli Sadek. "The talk about a 10-year truce in return for a settlement is meaningless. It reflects a state of political confusion and indecisiveness."
WARNING: This is a high volume ping list
Imagine that, Hamas speaking out of both sides of it's filthy mouth.
Is there anyone daft enough to believe them if they said otherwise?
Right, no truce. Peace treaty, permanent.
"Stubborn Islamofascist swine decide on death."
As Bill Clinton would say, "take a look at little Willie boy...might be a clue there..."
Truce...who are you kidding, Yasser,Jr...go back to Egypt or assimilate and shaddup.
Smashing tagline.
"Al-Hindi added that Islamic Jihad was rejecting all talk of ceasefire "as long as the circumstances that led to the death of the late leader Yasser Arafat are still unclear, and we do not know if he died by poisoning or from radiation."
He died of the unintended consequenses of fudge-packing, you twit!
"slamic Jihad leader in the Gaza Strip, Mohammed Al-Hindi, said Saturday that his group would not agree to a temporary ceasefire (hudna) "of any length" with Israel, "as long as the Zionist enemy occupies Palestinian lands."
Al-Hindi added that Islamic Jihad was rejecting all talk of ceasefire "as long as the circumstances that led to the death of the late leader Yasser Arafat are still unclear, and we do not know if he died by poisoning or from radiation."
"On the light of the numerous statements on ceasefire or truce, the Islamic Jihad rejects even discussing this issue and talking about either a short- or long-term truces," al Hindi told reporters in Gaza.
"This is the clear position as long as the attacks are continued against our people and the Palestinian territories, the latest aggression was Friday's assassination of Islamic Jihad militant in Jenin," he said.
Hamas split on truce proposal
Osama Hamdan, a top Hamas official in Lebanon, on Saturday dismissed reports that his movement may accept a long-term truce with Israel."
Sigh. Same ole movie, same ole channel, same ole, same ole. The US is wasting its time trying to work out a "peace" between these no-count carpetbaggers and Israel. They could have 100 agreements, processes, accords, whatever, and the rads will never, ever accept them. Every time I heard of some new move for a "peace process" or whatever, I groan. We got real peace in WW 2 only after the Nazis and militarist Japanese were clearly and totally defeated. You cannot make "nice-nice" with those that are evil and have sworn to murder and destroy.
They bring it upon themselves. Let it rain fire on the souls.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.