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Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, left, walks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during meetings in Gaza City, Monday. (AP)
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| By Associated Press September 12, 2006 |
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The spokesman for the outgoing Hamas-led Palestinian government said the new Palestinian coalition will have "no problem" holding peace talks with Israel, but expressed doubt that Israel is ready to make the necessary concessions for a deal.
"We have no problem that this government have peace talks with Israel," the spokesman, Ghazi Hamad, told Israel Radio.
Speaking in Hebrew, Hamad said the Palestinians are ready for an independent state in territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war. The comments indicated a softening in Hamas' past calls for Israel's destruction.
It was not immediately clear whether Hamad was voicing official policy or his personal view. In the past, Hamad has made moderate statements that were later denied by other members of Hamas.
Battered by months of international sanctions, the Hamas-led government on Monday said it would form a coalition with the more moderate Fatah movement of President Mahmoud Abbas.
While Hamas, which Israel and the West have labeled a terrorist group, would still be part of the new government, it agreed to give Abbas authority over dealings with Israel. Abbas has long called for a resumption of peace talks with Israel.
Hamad said the Islamic group is not prepared to recognize Israel's right to exist -- a key demand by Israel and the West. However, the platform of the new government calls for a Palestinian state alongside Israel -- effectively granting recognition to the Jewish state.
"This government, with Hamas in the national unity government, we don't have problem accepting a state," Hamad said. "We have nothing against negotiations, we have nothing against a diplomatic process but we have rights."
He said, however, that Hamas doesn't believe Abbas will succeed. "He won't get anything from Israel."
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