Haniyeh: Withdrawal to '67 lines condition for deal

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Hamas' candidate for Palestinian Authority prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, told the Washington Post that Hamas will examine all of the agreements signed with Israel, and will honor those that are in the best interest of the Palestinians.

Haniyeh's comments, made in an interview with the Washington daily, will be published in full on Sunday.

Haniyeh, seen as a leader of the more pragmatic wing of Hamas, also told the interviewer Hamas would honor agreements that guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, and those that pledge the release of Palestinian prisoners.

When asked if Hamas would be willing to recognize Israel should it agree to withdraw to the 1967 borders, Haniyeh told the Washingon Post that Hamas would agree to a peace deal in stages, the first of which would call for stability and longterm ceasefire. He also said, "We have no hostile feelings toward Jews and we don't want to throw them into the sea. All we want is to get our land back and not to hurt anyone."


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/687037.html

[cali]

1. This is not going to end well

Israel will not return to the '67 borders, and won't give Jerusalem up. Neither side appears willing to budge. The frustration and anger will keep increasing, resulting in spasms of violence. It's such a nightmare.

[Poppyseedman]

2. Ismail Haniyeh is having a wonderful dream

if he thinks Israel will go back to the pre war 1967 borders. Jerusalem will never be the Palestinian capital unless it is a shared capital.

[kayecy]

3. Back to the 67 line

Why does everyone seem to think that it it is unthinkable for Israel to withdraw to the Green Line?

[pelsar]

4. two basic reasons....

physically there are now full blown israeli cities on the "otherside" (though a land swap was the solution for that)...but more realistically, other than a religious type of belief that once the palestenians have their "green line" they will stop shooting at israel, there really is nothing that provides confidence in that direction.

and for those who do have such a belief, the question arises....what if their wrong, and, like in gaza today, the palestenains (or which ever group "cant be controlled and is shooting at israel) continue to attack israel.....only this time from the greenline such institutions such as the knesset and intl airport will be in range.....

what then?

[barb162]

5. Since this interview is now being "denied" by Hamas

I wonder if there's a point discussing it

[pelsar]

6. it was a "hudna"....anyways..

which translates in to ...."lets have a cease fire until i can rearm and then i will attack".....thats the english translation.

[barb162]

7. you're probably right

[Wordie]

8. Actually, the interview itself was not denied, just WaPo's reporting of it

Isn't that a more accurate statement, barb?

On edit, I hunted down the post that had the information, and here is what Hamas said about the interview:

Group spokesman Salah Bardaweil says designated Palestinian PM was misquoted in Washington Post interview...

...The Hamas spokesman disassociated his organization from the comments and said that the quotes in the newspaper were inaccurate, adding that Heniyeh said in response to a question on whether he would be willing to recognize Israel: "If Israel withdraws from the territories it conquered in '67 and if it releases all of the Palestinian prisoners and if it returns the refugees to their homes, then we will discuss it."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x117320

Isn't what the Hamas spokesman merely clarifying the intent of the statements, rather than denying the interview occured, as you are saying, barb?

It still appears to me that there is a door open here.

[IndianaGreen]

9. "pragmatic wing of Hamas"?

Haniyeh, seen as a leader of the more pragmatic wing of Hamas, also told the interviewer Hamas would honor agreements that guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital...

Interesting how Rovian the leader of Hamas has turned out to be. How can you say you want to return to the 1967 borders in the same sentence where you say that Jerusalem (the whole enchilada) is to be the capital of a Palestinian state. Does Haniyeh think we are stupid or something?

BTW, characterizing anyone in Hamas as being part of its "pragmatic wing" is as much an oxymoron as describing yourself as a "compassionate conservative" or a "merciful nazi."

I want a peace settlement as much as the next DUer in here, but let us recognize that when we speak of peace we do not mean the same thing as when Hamas does. Cemeteries are peaceful too!

[Violet_Crumble]

12. Where did he say he wanted the whole enchilada?

What he said was a return to the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital. It's those words 'united' and 'Jerusalem' together in the same sentence, as is done with regular monotony by Israeli leaders, that give a huge hint that the whole enchilada is being talked about. Strange that people just don't seem to see a problem with it when Israel takes such an absolutist stance...

Also, Hamas like any other group would have it's factions, and I don't see why it's so impossible to believe that the moderates would be pragmatists...

I'm aware that for Hamas peace means something different to what I mean, just like the official Israeli peace-speak is a selfish one involving grabbing territory unilaterally, going on about a 'united Jerusalem' and ignoring the issue of Palestinian refugees. The peace I mean is one that's negotiated and fair to both Palestinians and Israelis, and it would be a lasting one. So anyone who thinks peace will come from a Kadima vision of unilaterally making large settlement blocks in the West Bank and Jerusalem in its entirety part of Israel is only interested in peace that means Israelis live in peace and it doesn't matter what happens to the Palestinians...

Violet...

[rfkrfk]

10. better, the 66 line

I kinda vote for the A.D. 66 line.

nothing special about 67, or '67

[Behind the Aegis]

11. What is the CE 66 line? n/t

[rfkrfk]

13. meant as sarcasm

the Palis' get to decide what year they like?

Says who?

I kinda like 1066, or maybe 1492, for a year.