HAMAS DENIES SOFTENING POSITION TOWARD ISRAEL

Hamas' Unreality Check (HonestReporting)
A Reuters interview with Syrian-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has generated some excited headlines implying a softening of Hamas' position regarding recognition of Israel. Needless to say, this was not the case.

Stating a "clear break with previous position", the Times of London headline reads "Hamas leader accepts the 'reality' of Israel", while the Independent says "Hamas softens Israel stance in calls for Palestinian state".

Reason for optimism? Not if you follow the news. Only one hour after the full interview was published by Reuters, Hamas government spokesperson Ghazi Hamad told Ha'aretz that Meshaal said, "Israel exists - and that's a fact." However, Hamad maintained that "there was no change in our stance that Hamas does not recognize Israel." [ED. OR IN HAMAS' CHARTER, CALLING FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL].

Salah Bardawil, head of Hamas's parliamentary faction, told Ha'aretz that after checking with Meshaal, it seems to be that his words were twisted and distorted."He didn't speak about any recognition of Israel, only a cease-fire with Israel," Bardawil said.

The Jerusalem Post also quotes a senior Hamas official in Gaza City who says "acknowledging that Israel exists does not mean recognizing its right to occupy the land of Palestine, which belongs only to the Moslems."

The bottom line - despite the Reuters interview and some resulting media reports, Hamas has not fulfilled the three basic criteria of the international community for lifting financial sanctions on the Palestinian government - recognition of Israel's right to exist, forswearing terrorism, and accepting previous Israeli-Palestinian agreeements.

Why does the media rush to portray Hamas as "moderate" despite the organization's own declarations to the contrary?

Hamas Denies It Would Consider Recognizing Israel - Avi Issacharoff
Hamas denied Wednesday that its Damascus-based political chief Khaled Mashaal said in a Reuters interview that his group would consider recognizing Israel once a Palestinian state is established. Hamas government spokesman Ghazi Hamad said Mashaal said, "Israel exists - and that's a fact." However, Hamad maintained that Mashaal did not say anything about recognizing Israel. "There was no change in our stance that Hamas does not recognize Israel," he said. (Ha'aretz)

DO YOU FIND IT IRONIC THAT NOW HAMAS CLAIMS THAT REUTERS' REPORTER MIS-REPRESENTED THE FACTS? IT SEEMS HAMAS AND ISRAEL AT LEAST CAN AGREE THAT REUTERS IS INCOMPETENT.