Hamas needs to change policies

Dubai: Hamas needs to honour all global commitments related to the Palestinian issue to gain international legitimacy, analysts have said.

"Hamas the revolution is not Hamas the State. There is a difference between the two," said Mustafa Al Ani of Dubai-based Gulf Strategic Studies Centre.

Analysts said only a change in policy will help Hamas gain acceptance and guarantee continued international aid to Palestinians.

Al Ani said the militant group came to power through democratic means and in a free and fair election.

However, "for Hamas to get international recognition and receive economic aid to provide Palestinian citizen with basic necessities, it needs to change its position vis-a-vis the international commitments, including the Oslo agreement," he told Gulf News referring to the 1993 Oslo pact by which the Palestinians recognised Israel's right to exist.

Hamas, however, is sworn to the destruction of Israel.

Hamas needs to change its avowed policy with regard to Israel in order for it to survive in authority, and to get Arab support, the analysts said.

"In my opinion, there is no Arab country willing to go against the international consensus with regard to Oslo [agreement]," Al Ani said when asked on Arab countries' position towards Hamas if it does not change its policy. But any change from the Hamas side would be reciprocated by the West, he said.

Meanwhile, some Palestinian analysts noted that Hamas is already talking to many parties in the West, mainly Europeans.

Hamas officials confirmed the talks.

"What I can confirm is that contacts at the diplomatic level are continuing with many European nations," said Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zahra.

When asked if the group was willing to recognise Israel, Abu Zahra countered, "Is Israel willing to recognise our rights and withdraw from our lands".

Earlier, Hamas leader Esmail Haniya, asked the international community to keep the aid flowing to the Palestinians. At a press conference in Gaza, Haniya said, "we assure you that all the revenues will be spent on salaries, daily life and infrastructure. You can review this".

Hamas leaders have already signalled that they are ready for a long-term truce with Israel, while they focus on their internal Palestinian agenda.

"In an interview with CNN, prominent Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar sidestepped a question about the group's willingness to recognise Israel. "It is not a matter of rejection [of Israel's existence]. Israel is here, present by power," he was quoted as saying by an agency.

Survey
Majority of Israelis against talks

Only one in six Israelis are willing to conduct negotiations with a Palestinian National Authority headed by Hamas, a poll showed yesterday.

Asked how Israel should respond to a government headed by the militant group. Hamas, only 17.6 per cent of respondents said Israel should press ahead with talks on a final settlement on the issue, according to the survey published in Maariv.