'Israel must recognise Palestine'

Washington: Hamas's new Prime Minister, Esmail Haniya, was interviewed by phone in his home in the refugee camp by this correspondent, where he lives with his wife and 12 children in Gaza. Following are excepts from the interview.

Washington Post: Were you surprised by the size of the Hamas victory?

ESMAIL HANIYA: Hamas entered the elections planning to be victorious.

What per cent of the people voted for Hamas because of your call for armed resistance?

Resistance is one of the reasons for Hamas's victory, but Hamas works [also] in the political, educational and charitable fields. All these activities helped it win.

Palestinian President Abu Mazen and the international community have put forward conditions for dealing with Hamas: 1) recognise Israel; 2) recognise existing agreements with Israel made by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation; 3) renounce violence. Will you agree to these conditions?

We are surprised that such conditions are imposed on us. Why don't they direct such conditions and questions to Israel? Has Israel respected agreements? Israel has bypassed practically all agreements. We say: Let Israel recognise the legitimate rights of the Palestinians first and then we will have a position regarding this. Which Israel should we recognise? The Israel of 1917; the Israel of 1936; the Israel of 1948; the Israel of 1956 or the Israel of 1967? Which borders and which Israel? Israel has to recognise first the Palestinian state and its borders and then we will know what we are talking about.

Israel has agreed to a two-state solution, signed agreements with the PLO and withdrawn from Gaza. So will Hamas accept any of the agreements that the PLO starting with (Yasser) Arafat and continuing with Abu Mazen made with Israel?

Number one, the withdrawal from Gaza was based on a unilateral decision and a unilateral plan. It was not [done] out of the generosity of Israel.

Has Israel committed itself to all these agreements? We are not war seekers nor are we war initiators.

We are not lovers of blood. We are not interested in a vicious cycle of violence. We are oppressed people with rights. If peace brings us our rights, then this is good.

Do you accept the Oslo agreement signed by Yasser Arafat?

Israel has stopped completely committing itself to Oslo.

I am not asking about Israel. Are you, as the new Palestinian prime minister, committed to Oslo?

How do you want me not to pay attention or care about what Israel says? Oslo stated that a Palestinian state would be established by 1999. Where is this Palestinian state? Has Oslo given the right to Israel to reoccupy the West Bank, to build the wall and expand colonies, and to Judaise occupied Jerusalem and make it totally Jewish?

Has Israel been given the right to disrupt the work on the port and airport in Gaza? Has Oslo given them the right to besiege Gaza and to stop all tax refunds from the Palestinian National Authority?

Will you abide by past agreements made by the Palestinian governments and Israel?

We will review all agreements and abide by those that are in the interest of the Palestinian people.

What agreements will you honour?

The ones that will guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital with 1967 borders as well as agreements that would release prisoners.

Would Hamas recognise Israel if it were to withdraw to the '67 borders?

If Israel withdraws to the '67 borders, then we will establish a peace in stages.

What does that mean?

Number one: We will establish a situation of stability and calm which will bring safety for our people what Shaikh [Ahmad] Yassin [a Hamas founder] called a long-term hudna [truce].

Does a peace in stages means the ultimate obliteration of the Jewish people?

We do not have any feelings of animosity toward Jews. We do not wish to throw them into the sea. All we seek is to be given our land back, not to harm anybody.

Do you recognise Israel's right to exist?

The answer is to let Israel say it will recognise a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, release the prisoners and recognise the rights of the refugees to return to Israel.

Hamas will have a position if this occurs.

So will you extend the present ceasefire?

I will not say yes or no. The problem is with Israel. If Israel gives us a quiet period and stops its incursions and the assassinations, then we will be able to convince our people to continue with a state of quiet.