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| By israelinsider staff and partners March 20, 2007 |
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Hamas is launching a massive public relations campaign to prove that the group has not given up on its terrorist principles by cooperating with Fatah, Ynetnews reported. Hamas emphasized that the basic doctrine of the new unity government, which became offical last Saturday, does not compromise their original beliefs.
However, according to the Palestinian media there are factional disagreements regarding this basic doctrine.
Former Foreign Minister Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar called the new government's principles weak and insufficient.
However, another Hamas, Mushir al-Masri, asserted that there are no rifts within Hamas and added that their principles have not been altered. Hamas spokesperson Dr. Ismail Radwan made the same claim.
According to the former Interior Minister, Said Siam, "There isn't a chance any Hamas leader will ever recognize Israel. We will not betray our values and we will not betray our land. We will leave this world as shahids (martyrs) without recognizing Israel."
Siam also said that no Hamas member would be permitted to recognize Israel and that a member who defied the group and did so would be forced out of the movement immediately.
Siam admitted that Hamas was forced to compromise for the sake of ending the Palestinian infighting over the past few months, which left many dead.
Hamas has come under fire from other terrorist groups, such as Al-Qaeda, for "selling out" and softening its positions. Al-Qaeda number two, Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, has criticized Hamas many times, including a taped speech broadcasted on Al-Jazeera.
Fatah: We are one with Hamas
Meanwhile, Fatah is trying to get the message through to the West that the group is fully aligned in purpose and approach with the Hamas terrorist organization.
Leading Fatah spokesman for PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, was cited by Ha'aretz as saying that the United States' and other Western governments' response to the PA -- that they will shun Hamas while fully engaging Fatah "moderates" -- is a flawed understanding of the new Palestinian unity government.
He said, "The cabinet ministers are carrying out the platform of the entire government, not just that of their parties or political organizations."
That platform conspicuously fails to recognize Israel's right to exist, and safeguards the "right" of Palestinian Arab groups to engage in "resistance" -- a common euphemism for terrorism -- against the Jewish state.
Hamas begins implementing new PA policy
Perhaps as part of their public relations campaign, Hamas on Monday implemented the provision of the unity government's platform allowing "all forms of resistance" against Israel.
A Hamas sniper shot and wounded an Israel Electric Corp. security guard near the Karni crossing Monday. Kobi Ohayon, 42, and other employees were working on four electricity poles at the time of the shooting.
Hamas further adhered to the new platform by refusing to condemn the totally unjustified shooting of an unarmed civilian or to arrest and punish the sniper responsible.
Jerusalem Newswire and Zionist.com contributed to this article. |
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