[Mb-civic] 'We Do Not Wish to Throw Them Into the Sea' (Ismael Haniyeh interview) - Washington Post Op-Ed

[William Swiggard]

'We Do Not Wish to Throw Them Into the Sea'

Sunday, February 26, 2006; B02

Since Hamas won control of parliament in the recent Palestinian 
elections, policymakers in Washington and Jerusalem have been faced with 
a dilemma: how to deal with a democratically elected government that is 
also on the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations. 
Last week, Newsweek-Washington Post's Lally Weymouth interviewed Hamas's 
new prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, by phone in his home in the refugee 
camp where he lives with his wife and 12 children in Gaza.

Were you surprised by the size of the Hamas victory?

Hamas entered the elections planning to be victorious.

Was the victory due to corruption in Fatah, the social services you 
provided or the general agreement of most Palestinians with the Hamas 
program of armed resistance?

The victory of Hamas is not only based on the corruption of the 
Palestinian Authority. Hamas has a vision and a program, and this is the 
reason why the Palestinian people chose Hamas. However, there is no 
doubt that the corruption helped Hamas's victory.

What percent of the people voted for Hamas because of your call for 
armed resistance?

Resistance is one of the reasons for Hamas's victory, but Hamas works 
[also] in the political, educational and charitable fields. All these 
activities helped it win.

Palestinian President Abu Mazen and the international community have put 
forward conditions for dealing with Hamas: 1) recognize Israel; 2) 
recognize existing agreements with Israel made by the Palestinian 
Liberation Organization; 3) renounce violence. Will you agree to these 
conditions?

We are surprised that such conditions are imposed on us. Why don't they 
direct such conditions and questions to Israel? Has Israel respected 
agreements? Israel has bypassed practically all agreements. We say: Let 
Israel recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinians first and 
then we will have a position regarding this. Which Israel should we 
recognize? The Israel of 1917; the Israel of 1936; the Israel of 1948; 
the Israel of 1956; or the Israel of 1967? Which borders and which 
Israel? Israel has to recognize first the Palestinian state and its 
borders and then we will know what we are talking about.

Israel has agreed to a two-state solution, signed agreements with the 
PLO and withdrawn from Gaza. So will Hamas accept any of the agreements 
that the PLO -- starting with [Yasser] Arafat and continuing with Abu 
Mazen -- made with Israel?

Number one, the withdrawal from Gaza was based on a unilateral decision 
and a unilateral plan. It was not [done] out of the generosity of 
Israel. Has Israel committed itself to all these agreements? We are not 
war seekers nor are we war initiators.

We are not lovers of blood. We are not interested in a vicious cycle of 
violence. We are oppressed people with rights. If peace brings us our 
rights, then this is good.

Do you accept the Oslo agreement signed by Yasser Arafat?

Israel has stopped completely committing itself to Oslo.

I am not asking about Israel. Are you, as the new Palestinian prime 
minister, committed to Oslo?

How do you want me not to pay attention or care about what Israel says? 
Oslo stated that a Palestinian state would be established by 1999. Where 
is this Palestinian state? Has Oslo given the right to Israel to 
reoccupy the West Bank, to build the wall and expand the settlements, 
and to Judaize Jerusalem and make it totally Jewish?

Has Israel been given the right to disrupt the work on the port and 
airport in Gaza? Has Oslo given them the right to besiege Gaza and to 
stop all tax refunds from the Palestinian Authority?

So you will not abide by past agreements made by the Palestinians and 
Israel?

I have not said that. I have said that Israel . . .

But you are not the prime minister of Israel. Will you abide by past 
agreements made by the Palestinian governments and Israel?

We will review all agreements and abide by those that are in the 
interest of the Palestinian people.

What agreements will you honor?

The ones that will guarantee the establishment of a Palestinian state 
with Jerusalem as its capital with 1967 borders -- as well as agreements 
that would release prisoners.

Would Hamas recognize Israel if it were to withdraw to the '67 borders?

If Israel withdraws to the '67 borders, then we will establish a peace 
in stages.

What does that mean?

Number one: We will establish a situation of stability and calm which 
will bring safety for our people -- what Sheikh [Ahmed] Yassin [a Hamas 
founder] called a long-term hudna .

Does a peace in stages means the ultimate obliteration of the Jewish people?

We do not have any feelings of animosity toward Jews. We do not wish to 
throw them into the sea. All we seek is to be given our land back, not 
to harm anybody.

Do you recognize Israel's right to exist?

The answer is to let Israel say it will recognize a Palestinian state 
along the 1967 borders, release the prisoners and recognize the rights 
of the refugees to return to Israel. Hamas will have a position if this 
occurs.

So will you extend the present ceasefire?

I will not say yes or no. The problem is with Israel. If Israel gives us 
a quiet period and stops its incursions and the assassinations, then we 
will be able to convince our people to continue with a state of quiet.

How is Hamas going to run its government with the United States cutting 
back funds and the Palestinian government having a deficit of $700 
million? Will Iran make up the difference?

We have an economic plan for self-sufficiency based on rationing and 
protection of public money. Number two: Our relationship with the 
Islamic and Arab world has shown indications that these people will 
support us. Number three: The liberals and free people of the world will 
not like to see the Palestinian people living under siege. We have 
received indications from the international community that they will not 
stop their aid.

I ask the American administration not to participate in any resolution 
that will double the suffering of the Palestinian people. I am convinced 
that the American people would not want to see the Palestinians suffer 
the way they do.

You must offer Americans some kind of assurance that you agree with 
President Bush's two-state solution, that you oppose violence and 
suicide bombings, that you favor peace. Can you?

All the Palestinian people would like to stop the bloodshed and take the 
civilians away from this vicious cycle of violence. The problem is not 
with us but with the Israelis.

Will you recognize Israel?

If Israel declares that it will give the Palestinian people a state and 
give them back all their rights, then we are ready to recognize them.

Israel does not have a charter calling for the destruction of the 
Palestinian state.

Our only position will be declared once Israel recognizes our right to 
exist.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon accepted a two-state solution as did 
President Bush. What do you say about the two-state solution?

It all starts with Israel.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/24/AR2006022402317.html
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