Hamas meets in Cairo
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Monday, 6 February: 18.17 CET) – Hamas leaders from the Palestinian territories and Syria are gathering Monday for crucial talks with Egyptian officials over the movement's policies and positions.
A top Hamas official, Moussa Abu Marzouk, who is close to Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, indicated that the Islamic party would be willing to moderate its stances through abiding by previous agreements signed with Israel, while continuing its opposition to recognizing Israel's right to exist.
In comments carried by Al Jazeera, Marzouk said: "The most daunting task we face is to recognize the Zionist enemy and the obligations which the Authority had in the absence of similar [Israeli] obligations."
He also expressed his disappointment with the failure of Fatah to agree to a coalition government. "We will act in the legal framework to get out from this deadlock, which our brothers in Fatah have put us in," he said.
Fatah's refusal to participate in a Hamas-dominated government leaves the Islamic movement in the invidious position of having to make rapid changes to fundamental positions on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in order to avoid international isolation.
Pressure is also likely to come from the hosts of the meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman confirming last week that Egypt would encourage Hamas to disarm its military arm, recognize Israel, and honor past peace deals.
Hamas has indicated that it will seek to merge its Izzedin al-Qassam militant wing with the Fatah-dominated Palestinian security forces.
A top Hamas official, Moussa Abu Marzouk, who is close to Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, indicated that the Islamic party would be willing to moderate its stances through abiding by previous agreements signed with Israel, while continuing its opposition to recognizing Israel's right to exist.
In comments carried by Al Jazeera, Marzouk said: "The most daunting task we face is to recognize the Zionist enemy and the obligations which the Authority had in the absence of similar [Israeli] obligations."
He also expressed his disappointment with the failure of Fatah to agree to a coalition government. "We will act in the legal framework to get out from this deadlock, which our brothers in Fatah have put us in," he said.
Fatah's refusal to participate in a Hamas-dominated government leaves the Islamic movement in the invidious position of having to make rapid changes to fundamental positions on Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in order to avoid international isolation.
Pressure is also likely to come from the hosts of the meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman confirming last week that Egypt would encourage Hamas to disarm its military arm, recognize Israel, and honor past peace deals.
Hamas has indicated that it will seek to merge its Izzedin al-Qassam militant wing with the Fatah-dominated Palestinian security forces.
posted by Marko at 2/06/2006 12:48:00 PM
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