But deep down, they really, really, want peace! "Hamas Leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar: Our Plan Is to Establish a Palestinian State Without Recognizing Israel and Without Giving Up the Right of Return," from MEMRITV, June 15:
Following are excerpts from an interview with Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, which aired on Future News TV on June 15, 2010:Mahmoud Al-Zahhar: We have liberated Gaza, but have we recognized Israel? Have we given up our lands occupied in 1948? We demand the liberation of the West Bank, and the establishment of a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with Jerusalem as its capital - but without recognizing [Israel]. This is the key - without recognizing the Israeli enemy on a single inch of land.
This is our plan for this stage - to liberate the West Bank and Gaza, without recognizing Israel's right to a single inch of land, and without giving up the Right of Return for a single Palestinian refugee.
[...]
Our plan for this stage is to liberate any inch of Palestinian land, and to establish a state on it. Our ultimate plan is [to have] Palestine in its entirety. I say this loud and clear so that nobody will accuse me of employing political tactics. We will not recognize the Israeli enemy.
As for the issue of a referendum - [the Palestinian Authority] is ready to impose its position on people by force. Whoever wants to hold a referendum, and believes that he can get all of Palestine for the Palestinians, can hold a referendum, but will not give up the platform of resistance, and the plan to liberate Palestine in its entirety. This is unequivocal.
[...]
If we could liberate the Negev now, we would continue [our military activity], but our capabilities dictate that after we got rid of the Israeli presence in Gaza, we must finish off the remnants of that occupation, and move on to the West Bank.


























There appears to be a commonly held mistaken view that it's Israel who is dragging her feet when it comes to negotiating with the so-called Palestinians. (see Obama's recent frosty handshake with Netanyahu and his urging Israel to start direct negotiations with the 'Palestinians') However, valid discussions hinge entirely on Hamas' willingness to say publicly and unambiguously that Hamas recognises Israel's 'right to exist'.
This refusal to admit Israel's 'right to exist' (those three little words!) should be trumpeted around the world repeatedly by Israel - in the UN, through newspaper ads, on a YouTube video, and so on.
Israel and her friends must put the terrorists on the back foot by telling the world again and again that admitting Israel's 'right to exist' is the key to any worthwhile progress.
Clearing up this wrong-headed view would help Israel's just cause.