(New York Times) Steven Erlanger - The Quartet said in a statement Monday that Hamas "must be committed to nonviolence, recognize Israel and accept the previous agreements and commitments," like the Oslo accords that set up the Palestinian Authority and the "road map" peace plan, which calls for the dismantling of armed groups like Hamas. But this is like asking Hamas to convert to Christianity, diplomats concede. Hamas is committed to the destruction of Israel, defends the right to use arms, and considers Oslo null and void. The most Hamas offers is a long-term truce with Israel, as a stage to Muslim rule over all of the former Palestine, if Israel agrees unilaterally to pull back to its pre-1967 boundaries and cede eastern Jerusalem.
2006-02-01 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive