Senior Hamas leader: Israel exists

[Scurrilous]

Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy of Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, tells Israeli-Palestinian radio station that 'there's no doubt there is realistic recognition on our part of Israel'; adds group's problem is demand to recognize legitimacy of occupation

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3218829,00.html

"Hamas senior member Moussa Abu Marzouk said Monday that "there's no doubt that there is a realistic recognition on our part of Israel, that Israel exists in the territory – and there's no signing agreements with an imaginary body but with a body that exists."

"Israel exists and we all acknowledge these agreements. The problem is not that, it is the demands made on Hamas. Our problem is that there is a demand to recognize the legitimacy of the occupation – and to that we won't agree," Abu Marzouk, a lieutenant of Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, told the Israeli-Palestinian radio station "All For Peace."

These comments, as well as the choice of station, an Israeli-Palestinian outlet, can be seen as a clear display of pragmatism on the part of Hamas towards the Israeli public and opinion-makers.

The comments were made in response to the question of whether there was significance to the Hamas announcement in which it said it would acknowledge the agreements signed by the Pa with Israel "in a realistic manner" – in actually recognizing Israel, and whether Hamas wants to lead the PA, despite the fact that from an ideological perspective, it will continue to claim that it does not recognize Israel's right to exist as an 'occupier of Islamic lands.'

[Igel]

1. It's nice that Marzuk understands word play, and

how to use the right words in a way that provides no answer, and yet provides exactly the answer.

Everybody can go home and think he knows what was said, and he agrees with each person. But it depends on what "recognize Israel" means (he's not using the phrase that most people intend) and what "occupation" means (it's not how most people understand it).

You think he's going to be pragmatic, and merely try to get all those "IOF" troops out of his bathroom in the Gaza Strip.

But by using the same terms in this way, he reiterates clearly that he regards Israel like a case of diarrhea: you can't not acknowledge its existence and deal with it, but it's not like you're not going to do what you can to rid yourself of it and what it entails.

[pelsar]

2. on TV last night....

dont know if you saw it..i think it was channel 1, interview in gaza.... acknowledgment that israel as an entity does actually exist....and that its occupying palestenian land....the rest being up to interpretation.

[tatertop]

3. This is why the world needs to start working with Hamas

We must force Israel to the peace table
by hook or by crook. The two will never agree on everything,
but unless Israel is forced into making real concessions
there can only be escalation.

UN observers should be part of the initial deal.

[pelsar]

5. interesting version...

nary a mention of the palestenains in that little narration...as if they've nothing to do with the present situation.

That one sided view point is actually part of the reason for stalemate.....

[Andromeda]

4. That's open to interpretation...

whether or not Israel is an occupier of Palestinian land. If Hamas, et al, regards Israel as an interloper of Arab land then they probably would never recognize the existance of Israel as people who only claim what they are entitled to.

This is just meaningless parsing of words on Marzouk's part.