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Palestinian supporters of the Islamic terrorist group Hamas gather for a protest in Gaza City. (AP)
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05/25
Ynetnews |
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| By Israel Insider staff and partners May 25, 2005 |
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According to a United Arab Emirates newspaper report, representatives of the U.S. administration and European Union have offered Hamas a deal to remove the group's name from the list of terror organizations.
According to the al-Bayan newspaper, senior Hamas members claim the deal requires the group to dismantle its military wing and stop all aggression against Israel, in exchange for the U.S. and E.U. removing Hamas's name from the international list of terror organizations.
"We have received direct and indirect messages from the American government regarding this issue," one senior Hamas member told the newspaper, adding that a U.S. delegation recently held talks in Beirut with the group's deputy political bureau head Moussa Abu Marzouk, where a similar offer was presented.
He said the group has not yet rejected the proposal and is presently examining what the offer entails.
In addition, he denounced reports that dialogue between Hamas and the U.S. has begun, but did not rebuff rumors that it may occur in the future.
"In the end, we are not the Taliban, al-Qaeda or even Iran who determine borders for its citizens in the name of Islam," he said. "We are Hamas -- a moderate Islamic movement."
The "moderate Islamic movement" is responsible for committing countless terror attacks inside Israel; its suicide bombers have taken the lives of scores of Israeli civilians.
According to the senior Hamas spokesman, the group's military wing will exist as long as the "occupation" continues.
"Once you solve the Palestinian problem and the occupation will come to an end, our military wing will cease to exist," he said. "We believe the Jihad is a means and not an aim.
He said there is nothing preventing Hamas from recognizing Israel and accepting the idea of two states living side-by-side, as long as Israel retreats to its 1967 borders.
This is not the first time the media has reported possible talks between Hamas and U.S. and European officials. Two United Arab Emirates newspapers reported on Saturday that senior Hamas and Hizbullah members both received official letters from the U.S administration and British government.
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