Region | Palestinian Territories
Hamas still hard line despite deal
The governing Hamas on Tuesday said it would continue to refuse to recognise Israel despite reaching a political deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 June 27, 2006
Gaza: The governing Hamas on Tuesday said it would continue to refuse to recognise Israel despite reaching a political deal with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Palestinian groups, except the Islamic Jihad, on Tuesday agreed to Abbas' referendum on a manifesto that implicitly recognises Israel.
However, Hamas insisted it was sticking to its "agenda of resistance" against Israel.
"The document included a clear clause referring to the non-recognition of the legitimacy of [Israel]," said Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
The manifesto included a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in line with Abbas' Fatah's recognition of Israel.
But Hamas legislator Salah Al Bardaweel said, "We said we accept a state [in territory occupied] in 1967 - but we did not say we accept two states."
Abbas had wanted to soften Hamas' hard line towards Israel in hopes of ending a US-led donation boycott for the Palestinian government.
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