Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoudal-Zahar said on Tuesday
that the Hamas-led government would not recognize Israel, nor would
meet international demands.
"The Palestinian government's position is steady and didn't
change," Zahar, who is from Hamas, said in a news conference held
in Gaza after his meeting with Brazilian ambassador in
Jerusalem.
"It won't recognize Israel, won't meet the international
quartet's demands, won't respect signed deals and will continue
resistance," he clarified.
The international community demands Hamas to recognize Israel,
renounce violence and honor previous peace deals.
Zahar argued that the nine previous Palestinian governments had
abided by the international demands but failed to serve people or
satisfy their minimum political and economical demands.
Zahar's remarks came one day after Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas canceled his meeting with Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, who
is also a senior Hamas official.
Regarding the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Zahar said that
Abbas did not cancel the meeting but "postponed it for some
internal problems."
Zahar added that the Hamas would meet with Abbas' deputy who
would participate in meetings in Gaza to discuss the formation of a
national unity government.
The talks between the ruling Hamas movement and Abbas' Fatah on
the coalition government was to some extent in a stalemate after
the initial agreement on forming such a government reached on Sept.
11.
Abbas' Fatah movement has accused Hamas of reneging on the
agreement.
(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2006)
