Haniyya: “Hamas agrees to a Palestinian State within 1967 borders”

Sunday January 21, 2007 03:29 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, from the Hamas party, said on Saturday that the Hamas movement accepts an independent Palestinian State within the 1967 borders, will not “recognize the Israeli occupation” but offers a truce.

Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya

Haniyya stated that agreeing to form a state within the 1967 borders will be in exchange of a truce with Israel, but not recognition.

That state, Haniyya said, should be able to achieve the Palestinian aspirations of independence and the right of return for the Palestinian refugees.

The truce is for 10 years that could be extended depending on the acts and violations practiced by Israel.

Haniyya also said that the government did not make any official decision regarding a Palestinian state with temporal borders, adding that this truce offer is dependant on the establishment of a Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital, implementing the Right of Return and freeing all the detainees in Israeli prisons.

Regarding unity talks between the Palestinian factions, Haniyya said that more meetings will be held in the coming days in Gaza with the participation of political and Islamic factions, in addition to social and civil institutions. The talks would be based on the Detainees Document.

The statements of Haniyya came as the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is preparing for a meeting with Hamas political bureau chief in Syria, Khalid Mashal.

The meeting will most likely focus on national unity issues and the ways to form a coalition government that is capable of lifting the U.S and Israeli led international embargo on the Hamas-led Palestinian government.

Israel, the United States and several western countries had previously rejected similar proposals by Hamas and said that the movement must recognize Israel and renounce violence. Hamas said that it cannot recognize a country that is still occupying the Palestinian lands, and oppressing the people.

palestine | peace process | news report saed at imemc dot org