Chair of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Khaled Masha’al, said that the movement will not negotiate with Israel now and that the movement decided to contest the parliamentary elections because the resistance is way to liberation.
Masha’al said in an interview with the Qatar-based al-Jazeera satellite channel that Oslo accords was proven failure especially that it stopped short of removing the settlements from the West Bank, whereas the "Palestinian resistance forced Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip," in reference to the unilateral disengagement plan.
He said that Oslo Agreement is part of the past, adding that not only Hamas says that but some leading members of the Fatah ruling party as well.
Hamas’ chief said that following the visit of the two U.S. envoys to the Palestinian territories, Oslo Accords were suggested to be the base on which taking part in the coming new government will be.
Masha’al explained that Hamas’ participation in these elections does not create a contradiction between the political work and the armed resistance, because "Oslo produced a political structure and Hamas has to deal with it as a de-facto, and this does not mean that Oslo is the base for everything."
Hamas says it has boycotted the first parliamentary elections in 1996 as it was a product of Oslo.
In response to alleges that Hamas is financed by Iran or other countries, Masha’al dismissed claims that the movement receives any money from any country saying that all the money that Hamas has are public donations.
On the other hand, the New York times, reported Palestinian officials as saying that the United States Aid for International Development (USAID) donated USD 2M to Fatah candidates to support them in their contest against Hamas. The paper did not reveal the names of the officials.
Hamas leader in Gaza and PLC candidate, Ismail Hania, said this is interference in internal Palestinian affairs and demanded an investigation in the issue.
Hania, who is running on Hamas’ list for this years election issued a statement reading in part, "This reflects which democracy the west wants."
He added, that "Hamas cannot be affected by a handful of dollars which is mixed with the blood of Arabs and Muslims."
كما نقلت واشنطن بوست عن رئيس بعثة الوكالة بالضفة الغربية وقطاع غزة –التي بدأت عملها في أغسطس/آب الماضي- قوله "إننا لا نحابي حزبا بعينه, لكننا لا نؤيد الأحزاب المدرجة في قائمة الإرهاب" دون أن تعلق الخارجية الأميركية بعد على الأنباء.
