bbalegere
03-22-2006, 10:21 PM
Abu Dhabi, Reuters:
Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group will continue to fight Israel and told the United States that its Middle East policy would fuel terrorism.
Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group will continue to fight Israel and told the United States that its Middle East policy would fuel terrorism.
“Israel cannot have stability with occupation. It has to choose. This is the message Israel should understand,” he told Reuters in an interview in Abu Dhabi.
“Armed resistance is legitimate. All resistance options are open to the Palestinian people and Palestinian factions including Hamas,” said Meshaal, who is touring Arab and Muslim countries to solicit financial and political support. He said he informed Arab leaders that the government his group will head needs $1.75 billion per year to make ends meet and that he was confident that they would help.
Israel says it will not negotiate with a government led by Hamas, which is sworn to destroy the Jewish state and has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.
Since its victory in Palestinian elections in January, Hamas has been under pressure from the US, EU and Israel to give up violence and recognise Israel or lose crucial financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. “So long as there is an Israeli occupation in Palestine (violence) will escalate,” Meshaal said.
Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group will continue to fight Israel and told the United States that its Middle East policy would fuel terrorism.
Hamas leader-in-exile Khaled Meshaal said on Wednesday the Palestinian militant group will continue to fight Israel and told the United States that its Middle East policy would fuel terrorism.
“Israel cannot have stability with occupation. It has to choose. This is the message Israel should understand,” he told Reuters in an interview in Abu Dhabi.
“Armed resistance is legitimate. All resistance options are open to the Palestinian people and Palestinian factions including Hamas,” said Meshaal, who is touring Arab and Muslim countries to solicit financial and political support. He said he informed Arab leaders that the government his group will head needs $1.75 billion per year to make ends meet and that he was confident that they would help.
Israel says it will not negotiate with a government led by Hamas, which is sworn to destroy the Jewish state and has carried out nearly 60 suicide bombings against Israelis since a Palestinian uprising erupted in 2000.
Since its victory in Palestinian elections in January, Hamas has been under pressure from the US, EU and Israel to give up violence and recognise Israel or lose crucial financial aid to the Palestinian Authority. “So long as there is an Israeli occupation in Palestine (violence) will escalate,” Meshaal said.