The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, on Sunday accused The Washington Post of misinterpreting statements made by Hamas leader Ismael Haniyya, who was nominated last week as the new Palestinian Prime Minister.
A Hamas spokesman in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Salah al-Bardaweil, denied that Haniyya had told the Post that Hamas could recognize Israel under a future deal on condition that Israel withdraws to the pre-1967 borders.
al-Bardaweil stated, "We have the recorded interview and it doesn’t include any of the statements published by the Post." Haniyya didn’t say that Hamas would recognize the state of Israel as it was reported by the Post.
Haniyya told the Post that if Israel withdraws to the pre-1967 borders, allows the refugees to return to the Palestinian territories and releases Palestinian prisoners, then the issue will be discussed, al-Bardaweil said.
The spokesman asserted that Hamas is still keeping its positions and will never recognize Israel’s occupation and abandon the Palestinian national struggle.
