Exiled leader of Hamas, Khale Mash’al, agreed yesterday to a Palestinian state within the 1967 border lines , including the Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem, if such a state is approved by a public referendum.
‘ we accept such a state with full supremacy on the 1967 borders including east Jerusalem but without recognizing Israel’, Mash’al told a press conference in Damascus, commenting on latest meetings with ex-U.S president, Jimmy Carter.
Mash’al said that Hamas has informed Carter the party’s unwillingness to declare a unilateral ceasefire with Israel for previous ceasefire declarations have failed to stop the Israeli ‘aggression’
He maintained that Hamas will follow up on indirect talks with Israel regarding a possible prisoners swap deal, upon which the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit will be released in return for the freedom of 400 Palestinian detainees.
‘ we prefer to continue negotiations through mediators because the prisoners profile is quite significant and considered to be of great concern to our Palestinian people’, the exiled supreme leader of Hamas revealed.
Over the past few days, Jimmy Carter has held a number of meetings with Hamas leaders from inside and outside the Palestinian territories.
