Editorial Note: The following news reports are summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology. Comments are in parentheses.

 

Hamas slams PA for pledging not to move legally against the Israeli occupation government

[ 02/05/2013 - 11:22 AM ]

BEIRUT, (PIC)--

John Kerry and Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah, April 2013

 

Member of Hamas's political bureau Ezzat Al-Resheq denounced the Palestinian authority for promising the US not to take legal action against Israel at international courts and bodies as a goodwill gesture towards the peace process.

Resheq made his remarks in response to de facto PA foreign minister Riyadh Al-Maleki who stated recently that the PA pledged to US secretary of state Johan Kerry to freeze its efforts to join UN institutions and halt its intentions to file complaints with international organizations against Israel in order to revive the peace talks.

The Hamas official condemned such position as political disorientation and a waiver of the Palestinian people's rights.

"How come the people whose land is under occupation, their holy sites are violated and they are exposed every day to killing and arrest start to make goodwill gestures towards the occupation?" Resheq rhetorically questioned.

"20 years of frivolous negotiations which have brought the [Palestinian] cause to a deadlock are not enough for the Oslo team in order for it to start once again making political concessions as good faith gestures for the sake of talks exploited always by the occupation to impose more settlements as a fait accompli, seize more lands and Judaize Jerusalem!" he exclaimed

"There is no option for our people but to be united and devise a national strategy based on steadfastness and resistance in all its forms in order to confront the occupation, and its Judaization and settlement policies because the rights are taken by force and not begged," the Hamas official emphasized.

For his part, Yousuf Rizqa, the political advisor of the Palestinian premier, castigated the political pledges made by the PA to the US and described it as shameful.

"It is unfortunate that the PA leadership keeps hogging the Palestinian decision-making and act far from the will of the Palestinian people and without the participation of the factions operating on the ground," Rizqa stressed in a press release.

"This position only reflects a group of people monopolizing the authority and the representation of the people, and contradicts the popular and factional vision, which the Palestinian people dominantly share," the political advisor said.

He warned it is a grave mistake to use goodwill gestures in the management of the political conflict with the Israeli occupation.

 

Haniyya: “Hamas Rejects The Modified Arab Initiative”

Friday May 03, 2013 00:02 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Ismail Haniyya, Hamas Prime Minister in Gaza

Prime Minister of the Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyya, stated that Hamas rejects the modified Arab peace initiative and added “Palestine is not a property, not for sale or trade”.

Haniyya made his statements as he welcomed European, Tunisian and Egyptian relief convoys in Gaza. He said that the stance of the Arab Committee and its modified version of the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 “encourages Israel to continue its illegal settlement activities in Palestine”.

He added that the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank and the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) were the first to allow such concessions in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel in 1967.

The Hamas leader said that there should not be any concessions on any part of Palestine and Jerusalem, and added that what Israel is doing is illegitimate, and called on the Islamic nations to protect Palestine and Jerusalem.

He further stated that “armed resistance is a strategic choice for liberating Palestine”, and added that “what has been taken by force, can only be retrieved by force, not through negotiations with the occupation, and not through concessions”.

Haniyya also stated that the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees displaced by Israel is a sacred right that should not be altered or modified.

The Arab League modified it Peace Initiative of 2002, allowing the principle of land swap between Israel and the Palestinians under a comprehensive peace agreement sponsored by the United States.

U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, welcomed the modified initiative, and stated that this is an essential step that would help boost the efforts to resume the stalled direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Abu Marzouk: Land swap brings in more waivers

[ 02/05/2013 - 09:01 PM ]

CAIRO, RAMALLAH, (PIC)--

Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouk, member of the Hamas political bureau, has strongly slammed the waivers made by the Arab ministerial delegation to the United States regarding an initiative of land swap.

Abu Marzouk said on Wednesday in a statement posted on his Facebook page that the issue of Palestine is an Arab and Islamic issue, but no one is entitled to give up any inch of it.

"We refuse to exchange land because all the land belongs to us," he said, stressing that the recent waivers might bring in new pressures and more waivers.

Salah al-Khawaja, an expert on issues of settlements and the wall in the occupied West Bank rejected the Arab League endorsement of land swaps between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, considering it violation of international law.

Khawaja told Quds Press on Wednesday that international law does not allow any state to swap lands before the liberation and the establishment of an independent state.

He pointed out that the principle of "land swap" is like a new Arab waiver to the USA, as it gives legitimacy to the occupation to continue its settlement activity in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Khawaja condemned the Arab silence regarding Israel's persistent policy of destruction and killing of Palestinian people.

US Secretary of State John Kerry met on Tuesday with Arab League officials to discuss the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative

Kerry welcomed in a meeting with journalists the Arab League's decision to accept the exchange of lands between Israel and the Palestinians.