Hamas backs Carter on statehood

Damascus: Hamas has said it was prepared to accept the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war, but it was not prepared to recognise the Jewish state.

The announcement made by Khaled Meshaal was a confirmation of remarks made by former US President Jimmy Carter after meetings in Damascus.

"We accept a state on the June 4 line with Jerusalem as capital, real sovereignty and full right of return for refugees but without recognising Israel," Meshaal told reporters.

Washington, which refuses to deal with Hamas and has not backed Carter's mission, said it saw no change in the group's positions.

An Israeli government spokesman also said the Jewish state was unimpressed by Meshaal's statement.