(MEMRI) In early October 2005, the reformist website www.elaph.com posted an interview with Hamas leader in Gaza Dr. Mahmoud al-Zahar. Al-Zahar discussed internal Palestinian affairs and stated that Hamas would run in the elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council, but would still keep its weapons. On November 8, 2005, in a statement widely lauded as a breakthrough, al-Zahar told Israel Radio that Hamas was not ruling out negotiating with Israel if this would serve the Palestinian interest. Subsequently, in an interview with the London Arabic daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, he denied having made this statement.
2005-11-21 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive