Haniyeh: We won't respect any deal

[oberliner]

Hamas on Sunday responded to the announcement of a tripartite meeting between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and US President Barack Obama, announced by the White House Saturday overnight.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

In a sermon for the Eid el-Fitr holiday marking the end of Ramadan, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh told Gazans congregating in a stadium in Gaza City that "no one has the right to give up on Jerusalem or the refugees. Not the PLO and no any other factor can sign an agreement hurting the Palestinian people's principles and rights. Any agreement reached will not be respected by our people."

Haniyeh also said the offers presented this week by US Middle East envoy George Mitchell were "no different than offers by previous US administrations" and were intended to bring about a compromise with Israel at the expense of Palestinians' rights and Jerusalem, since, Haniyeh said, "settlement blocs will remain in place."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1253198158988&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Haniyeh warns against concessions to Israel

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh on Sunday warned against making any concessions to Israel concerning Jerusalem or the right of return of Palestinian refugees during the US-hosted talks. "No one has been given a mandate to renounce Al-Quds or the refugees," Haniyeh said during a speech to mark the Eid al-Fitr holiday.


"No one, not even the Palestine Liberation Organization or anyone else, has been mandated to accept any agreement that will undermine the rights of the Palestinian people," the Hamas leader added.

http://www.albawaba.com/en/countries/Palestine/253867

[JDPriestly]

1. So, then Hamas wants the status quo, let them have it.

This is why there is no progress on peace in the Middle East. This is why Israel does not stop building in the territories they took in a war that was started against them in 1967. Why should Israel even negotiate if the Palestinian people cannot be relied upon to honor an agreement reached through negotiation?

No country, no individual enters into an agreement knowing the other side is negotiating either in bad faith or without the full support of all who must abide by the agreement. The Palestinians need to get their own house in order before they try to negotiate with other countries.

This is juvenile behavior. Either I get all the marbles or I won't play at all.

[oberliner]

2. Can Hamas spoil Obama's three-way Mideast summit?

Tel Aviv - Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh slammed the Obama administration's plan to meet Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, saying that Palestinians will reject anything Mr. Abbas agrees to during discussions on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

His comments come one day after militants in Gaza fired two rockets into Israel and as a flare up in violence along the Gaza border left two militants dead.

"Any signature will be invalid, and it won't bind the Palestinian people to anything," Mr. Haniyeh said in a sermon in Gaza City at the start of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. "No one has the right to give up on Jerusalem or the refugees. Not the nor any other faction can sign an agreement hurting the Palestinian people's principles and rights."

For Palestinians, Haniyeh's remarks were a jab at his rival, Mr. Abbas, for relenting on a demand that Israel agree to a freeze in settlement construction as a condition to resuming talks with Mr. Netanyahu. And the timing of his comments serve as a reminder that Hamas, which maintains control of Gaza, could play spoiler to this week's attempt to get peace talks back on track.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0920/p06s01-wome.html

[aranthus]

3. The only way to bring Hamas to heel

is to reach a fair settlement with the West Bank Palestinians in spite of them.

[Vegasaurus]

4. Haniyeh seems to speak out of two sides of his mouth

He'll accept '67 lines, he'll never accept a peace deal,he'll never accept Israel.

I think the latter is true, no matter what that wolf in sheep;s clothing might say.

[LeftishBrit]

5. So he does...

I suspect he may accept a peace deal if he thinks it's to his political advantage; but he isn't much of a leader.