GAZA CITY, 7 October 2006 — Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh was adamant yesterday that Hamas would not recognize Israel and outright rejected huge international pressure to soften the stance of his ruling Islamist movement. “We will not recognize Israel, we will not recognize Israel, we will not recognize Israel,” Haniyeh thundered in a speech before tens of thousands of Hamas supporters rallying in support of his embattled Palestinian government.
The prime minister instead repeated that his movement would be willing to enter into a truce with the Jewish state in exchange for a Palestinian state created on land occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East War.
“We are for the creation of a Palestinian state on the territories occupied in 1967 with Jerusalem as its capital in exchange for a truce but not recognition of Israel, which would amount to renouncing the land of our ancestors,” he added.
Israel has always rejected any question of a truce and demands that any Palestinian government accept conditions laid down by the international community as a means to resuming dialogue and ending a damaging boycott. Insisting that Hamas recognize Israel, renounce violence and abide by past peace agreements, the West suspended direct aid after the Islamists took office last March, saddling the Palestinians with an unprecedented fiscal crisis.
But Haniyeh rejected “diktats” imposed by the four sponsors of the Middle East peace process, the European Union, Russia, United Nations and United States, known as the quartet. “We reject foreign interference in the affairs of the Palestinian people and the diktats of the quartet,” Haniyeh said. “We insist on non-recognition of the legitimacy of occupation and we will never renounce an inch of our land, refugees’ return and the creation of a Palestinian state enjoying full sovereignty with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Haniyeh urged President Mahmoud Abbas to resume talks on forming a national unity coalition after Abbas threatened to dissolve the Hamas-led government. Haniyeh is embroiled in an increasingly bitter power struggle with Abbas, fueled by their failure to agree a unity coalition that Palestinians hope will lift Western sanctions.
Clashes earlier this week between Hamas gunmen and forces loyal to Abbas’ Fatah movement triggered fears of civil war. “Mr. President come to Gaza. Come to Gaza to resume dialogue ... and announce a unity government,” Haniyeh said in the impassioned speech inside the Gaza’s Strip’s largest stadium. But Haniyeh vowed no government in which the militant Hamas movement served would recognize Israel, a stance that is a non-starter for Abbas and Western nations.
The premier heavily criticized the US administration, blaming Washington for the boycott of his government and denouncing “conspiracies” seeking to bring down his Cabinet.
“This siege is orchestrated by the American administration that wants to bring the Palestinian people and its government to their knees,” he added. Although the West considers Hamas a terrorist organization, Haniyeh insisted his government had the legitimacy of being elected and could not be overthrown. “I say to certain brothers and certain parties who are working day and night to bring down the government: do not tire yourself,” he shouted.
The 43-year-old prime minister appeared briefly unwell at one point, turning pale and looking unsteady on his feet, before being helped away from the podium and onto the ground by bodyguards amid the intense afternoon heat. Yet Haniyeh managed to resume his speech within minutes as an aide fanned his back.
Tens of thousands of Palestinians packed the city’s main sports stadium to hear Haniyeh speak, carrying enormous fluttering banners in the Islamist movement’s trademark green and wearing baseball caps in the same color.
Deprived of international aid and customs duties owed by Israel since taking office last March, the Hamas-led government is practically bankrupt and civil servants have not received their full salaries for six months. Tensions between supporters of Fatah and Hamas have spilled over into deadly clashes in recent days, leaving 12 people dead and more than 100 wounded.
At one stage Haniyeh appeared to faint as aides rushed to help him into a chair. Haniyeh, who like many Muslims is fasting for the holy month of Ramadan, later resumed his speech. “I urge the leadership of Fatah and Hamas to hold an urgent meeting, tonight, in my presence, to put an end to the internal strife. (But) we will not recognize Israel,” Haniyeh said.
