(Times-UK) Stephen Farrell - Mahmoud Zahar, 60, Hamas's senior leader in Gaza, told The Times that Hamas will not only challenge Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement in legislative elections in July, but also seek to topple it from leadership of the Palestinian parliament. He made clear that Hamas intends to claim Israel's withdrawal from Gaza as a retreat under fire and victory for its campaign of violence. Ominously, he refused to commit Hamas to peace in Gaza once Israel withdraws its 9,000 settlers. "Our goal is...to keep the mood of the Palestinian people anti-occupation, to move towards a new strategy: co-operation with the Arabs, not co-operation with the Israelis," Zahar said.
2005-04-14 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive