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Realistic Approach to Oslo: Hamas
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"No resistance fighter will be arrested," Abu Marzouk stressed.
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By
Mohamad Gamal Arafa, IOL Staff
CAIRO,
February 1, 2006 (IslamOnline.net) – A Hamas-led Palestinian
government will realistically deal with the outcomes of the Oslo Accords
between the Palestinians and Israel, a leading Hamas figure has told IOL.
"Hamas
will deal with outcomes of the Oslo Accords," Moussa Abu Marzouk,
Hamas politburo deputy-chief, told IslamOnline.net over the phone
Wednesday, February 1.
The
resistance group has swept the Palestinian legislative elections,
winning a surprising 74 of the 132-seat legislature, against 45 for the
ruling Fatah party.
"Any
struck agreements lead to certain realities on the ground and any
political power has to deal with such realities," Abu Marzouk said.
Under
the 1993 Oslo accords, the Palestinian Authority was granted limited
self-rule in parts of the Palestinian territories seized by Israel in
the 1967 Middle East war.
"Hamas
has run for the Palestinian elections to win seats in the Legislative
Council, which is a direct result of the Oslo Accords.
"We
have sought the polls based on the results of the accords, which are
somehow now ineffective, but whose outcomes the group is realistically
dealing with," he noted.
Hamas'
stunning electoral victory has sent shockwaves in the West, with the
United States and the European Union stepping up pressures on the group
to recognize Israel to secure flow of foreign aid to the Palestinians.
"Respect
Choice"
But
Abu Marzouk slammed threats by western countries to cut off aid to the
Palestinians after Hamas' landslide victory.
"The
west should respect rules of the democratic game they are propagating
for and respect the choice of the Palestinian people," he told IOL.
The
Middle East peacemaking Quartet, which groups the US, EU, Russia and the
UN, warned Monday that payments to the Palestinians would be under
threat if Hamas did not radically alter its principle on Israel's
recognition before entering government.
"Aid
to the Palestinian Authority is part of a settlement program. If they
decided to cut off aid and give up their long-propagated vision, the
Palestinian people would not become the sole loser," Abu Marzouk
said.
"The
situation in the occupied territories will return to its original shape
as occupied people struggling to live."
Abu
Marzouk, however, noted that majority of foreign aid to the Palestinian
Authority is flowing from the Arab and Muslim countries, not from the
United States and Europe.
"The
Palestinian struggle must have regional, Arab and Islamic support to
continue their quest for liberation."
On
Tuesday, the resistance group accused the West of blackmail, rejecting
the Quartet demands to recognize Israel and “renounce violence” if
it wants aid and support.
No
Arrest
Abu
Marzouk said the group will not arrest any Palestinian involved in
carrying out resistance attacks against the Israeli occupation forces.
"No
resistance fighter will be arrested," he stressed.
"The
resistance is serving the Palestinian people's rights. Hamas' program is
in no contradiction with the resistance."
The
Hamas official added that the group will discuss with all Palestinian
parties the agenda of the resistance to define priorities of the
Palestinian national work and resistance.
On
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal's statements that the group was
ready to form a "Palestinian army", Abu Marzouk said the
remarks were a bid to find ways to regulate weapons of the resistance
factions.
"But
it is not yet the drawn up opinion of Hamas on the issue, which should
be dealt with within a framework of a national conciliation."
"Emotional"
Abu
Marzouk criticized as "emotional" rejection of Fatah officials
to join a Hamas-led Palestinian government.
"Fatah
is a major Palestinian group and should not take political decisions in
such an emotional way."
He
further urged Fatah to reconsider its decision not to joining a Hamas-led
government.
"Some
reactions by Fatah officials are taken merely to object the people's
decisions."
Abu
Marzouk said that a Hamas delegation will soon visit Egypt and a number
of Arab countries.
"Egypt
is playing an important role in the region."
"Hamas
is looking forward to intensive Egyptian efforts to help stabilize the
situation," he added.
He
stressed that contacts were under way to agree on the delegation's visit
to Cairo.
"But
details were left to a consultative meeting tackling all regional
developments," he stressed.
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