November 29, 2004
POLITICS AS USUAL:
Senior Hamas Leader Holds Out Possibility of Cease-Fire with Israel (Sonja Pace, 29 November 2004, VOA news)
A senior leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas says his organization will not stand in the way of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement if it is fair for the Palestinians. He also held out prospects for a long term cease-fire with Israel.Sheik Hassan Yusef is the top Hamas leader in the West Bank, and his comments are the most moderate a member of the group has made publicly.
Hamas has never recognized the right of Israel to exist and has carried out dozens of attacks against Israelis during the past four years of violence, but Sheik Yusef indicated the group may be re-thinking its strategy as it explores new avenues in a post-Arafat era.
Violence has dropped off considerably since Mr. Arafat's death on November 11, with the interim Palestinian leadership and the Israeli government seemingly eager for a calm transition.
Hamas is on the verge of being just another political party. Posted by Orrin Judd at November 29, 2004 3:07 PM
They'll need to drop their (generally ineffectual) boycott of the January election if that's going to happen.
Posted by: Timothy at November 29, 2004 3:09 PMWhen they publicly declare Israel's right to exist and stop targeting defenseless kids in pizza parlors, I'll believe it.
Posted by: Matt Murphy at November 29, 2004 3:13 PMTimothy:
They can't win the presidency, yet, but will dominate the legislature.
Posted by: oj at November 29, 2004 3:23 PMI'm not sure that "cease fire" is the correct translation of the arabic term "hudna." I think its more accurately translated as "temporary cessation of hostilities because we know you are beating us that will allow us to regroup and improve our strategic situation."
Posted by: AML at November 29, 2004 5:59 PMI think it more correctly translates to please don't fry me the way you fried the last 3 dudes in my spot.
Posted by: Robert Schwartz at November 29, 2004 10:56 PM