 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Hamas, which now holds a majority in Palestinian parliament, not to recognise Israel unless Palestinians' rights are restored, state media said on Sunday. "Recognising Israel is linked to the restitution of Palestinians' rights," Assad was quoting as saying by the SANA news agency during a speech Saturday to the fourth session of the general conference of Arab parties. "There should not be recognition of Israel for free, as if it were a gift for Israel, so that the West is satisfied with us," Assad said in the speech, which he gave at the university of Damascus. "Why are they asking for Hamas to recognise Israel, given that the Palestinian Authority has already recognised the state? That means there are other goals." |