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Hamas leader vows to include West Bank in its control
(Xinhua) -- A senior Hamas leader said Saturday that his movement should also rule the West Bank in addition to the Gaza Strip that it currently controls. "Hamas movement must rule in Gaza and the occupied West Bank according to the results of the elections," said Mahmoud Zahar, former Hamas foreign minister in Gaza. He made the remarks in response to Western and American aid which goes to support security forces of president Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. The pro-Abbas forces control the West Bank and Hamas says they crack down on the Islamic movement's supporters there. Zahar stressed that the West Bank "participated in resistance against the (Israeli) occupation," calling on the Palestinian people in the West Bank to inflame an Intifada (uprising) if the Ramallah authority reiterated the Israeli onslaught on Hamas. Hamas accused Fatah of trying to topple its government that the Islamic movement formed after winning the parliamentary elections in 2006. Rounds of talks and fighting between the two sides ended last year with Hamas routing pro-Abbas forces, ousting Fatah and taking over the Gaza Strip. Abbas consolidated his power in the West Bank with a western-backed government he formed. Zahar's Saturday call was the first frank statement as Hamas used to deny it plans to take the West Bank by force. He, meanwhile, ruled out an imminent reconciliation with Fatah, saying "the reconciliation is the mechanism of the dialogue, but Ramallah is not ready for reconciliation now." Zahar also accused the United States of imposing "a veto" on the Palestinian dialogue. Posted by: Fred 2008-08-10 |
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