 |
 |
 |
|
|
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, left, and Iranian Vice-President Parviz Davoudi, listen to their national anthems during an official welcoming ceremony for Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. (AP)
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
 |
Palestinian gunmen from the militant wing of the Fatah Movement march in support of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas outside Abbas' office in Gaza City, Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. The emerging consensus in a panel advising Abbas on how to handle Hamas is to leave the Islamic militants in power for now and only resort to early elections if the economic crisis in the Palestinian territories deteriorates sharply, a member said Thursday. (AP)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By israelinsider staff and partners December 10, 2006 |
|
| |
From his trip to Iran, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh warned Sunday that early elections would lead to chaos, saying his Hamas-led government opposes "political tyranny." He was also assured by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that "through a struggle, the Palestinians can retrieve all their territories."
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, of Hamas' rival party Fatah, has threatened to call early elections if deadlocked negotiations with Hamas over the formation of a national unity government are not revived.
Abbas faces a dilemma in trying to resolve the political impasse and end the crippling Western aid boycott of the Palestinian government. He is under strong pressure to break the deadlock, but calling new elections to oust the Hamas-led government could backfire and strengthen the Islamic militant group.
Haniyeh, whose Hamas Islamic group took control of the Palestinian government after an election victory earlier this year, made his comments during a farewell ceremony at the end of his four-day visit to Tehran, according to Iran's state-run news agency, IRNA.
"One should not violate the affairs of the Palestinian nation with various plans," IRNA quoted Haniyeh as saying. "Since the beginning of taking office, we have felt that some bodies have been daggering us from the back."
"We oppose any political tyranny while persisting on unity and solidarity," he said.
Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as reported by the IRNA, reassured Haniyeh of the Palestinian people's future victory over the "Zionists" and expressed Iran's support for the Palestinian government following statements made by Haniyeh over the weekend, including that his government will not recognize Israel, or any agreements signed by Israel.
He stated that "through a struggle, the Palestinians can retrieve all their territories, each and every part, and can establish a Palestinian government on them. No doubt -- It will happen."
Khamenei continued, "the Palestinian nation is taking a step forward each day and I am sure that the day will come when that land is run by Palestinians."
Haniyeh continued to say that "the generation that is fighting the Zionists today and that started the first and second intifadas is a young, highly motivated generation. This is the generation that will free Palestine."
According to Haniyeh, the armed struggle against Israel is part of Hamas and the Palestinian people's strategy: "The resistance is the only way to free Palestine. All the Palestinians chose this way as serious, and not tactical."
The Palestinian Authority has been paralyzed for months by stalled negotiations over the formation of a coalition government that would include both Hamas and Abbas' more moderate Fatah.
A new government was supposed to end a financial aid boycott imposed by the U.S. and international community to force Hamas to recognized Israel and renounce violence against the Jewish state -- something Hamas has refused to do.
Haniyeh's trip to Iran is part of his first trip abroad since taking office in March. Iran, which backs Hamas, is believed to have given $120 million to Hamas despite the international blockade.
During his visit to Iran, Haniyeh also met with hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."
Iran had close ties with Israel when the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was in power. When the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the shah, Iran broke ties with Israel and turned the Israeli embassy in Tehran into the Palestinian Authority embassy.
Today, the countries are bitter enemies, with Israel accusing Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons and supporting militant groups, including Hamas and Lebanon's Hezbollah. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.
AP and Ynet writer Dudi Cohen contributed to this report.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
