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Zahhar: Elections to determine Gaza authority after withdrawal
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, the current Numbah One on the target list one of the prominent Hamas Movement leaders in the Gaza Strip, has affirmed that his Movement would accept the establishment of a Palestinian state on any inch of national soil without surrendering the right to the entire land of historical Palestine.
"We want it all! All, y'unnerstan'?"
Zahhar, in a recent interview with the Egyptian daily ‘Al-Ahram’, said that Hamas’ main goal was ejecting occupation and establishing a society void of corruption. He refused to give any ceasefire commitment prior to the completion of a comprehensive Zionist withdrawal from the Strip. The Hamas leader affirmed that elections should determine who would run the Strip after the purported withdrawal. Asked on his Movement’s stand regarding the Egyptian role, Zahhar affirmed that Hamas harbingered no ill intention towards the Egyptian position and emphasized that none would object to Egyptian military deployment along its own borders. He finally pointed out that the current Palestinian Authority’s security apparatuses consisted of only one faction. “We are proposing the formation of a national army and security apparatus that grouped all political parties and that would welcome the Egyptian helping hand to those apparatuses. Egypt has maintained a balanced role and I believe that continuation of such a stand was vital for the coming stage,” he elaborated.

National dialogue should focus on the post-occupation political situation, security role, economic conditions and the mission of municipal and local councils, the Hamas leader underscored. He affirmed that Hamas was not weakened as a result of the Zionist assassination of a number of prominent leaders and activists. He recalled that Hamas’ strong blows to the Zionist enemy had led to a root change in the Zionist political concept. He also pointed to the presence of a number of recent violent attacks to the enemy soldiers in the Strip. Zahhar refuted allegations that Zionist agents had penetrated the Hamas Movement. “We do not say that Hamas consists of a group of angels but we can detect any moral or security lapse and handle it properly”, he elaborated.
"Mahmoud, speaking for Boskone! Out!"

Posted by: Fred 2004-06-17
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=35743