The Islamic Movement of Hamas will not make any security commitments to Israel in case of a unilateral Israeli pullout form Gaza. Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader, speaking at a news conference said "We are against any sort of commitment to any security steps on any side."
| "Nope. Nope. Won't happen. We prefer booming buses." |
He added, "We are still in the resistance ... to free our land from the occupation."
| Ummm... If they're leaving, aren't they taking the occupation with them? Or are you talking about their land now? |
Zahar’s comments came as Egyptian officials worked on an agreement for maintaining security in Gaza, in the wake of a planned Israeli pullback. Zahar also said Hamas leaders abroad were expected to begin talks with Egyptian officials within several days. Zahar spoke before a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who made a death-defying rare trip to Gaza to meet with the heads of the various Palestinian security branches and members of Palestinian political and militant groups. Israel’s Cabinet approved a plan last Sunday to evacuate settlements and soldiers from the volatile coastal strip, where 1.3 million Palestinians live in crowded poverty, by the end of 2005. "We do not trust the Israelis and we do not trust that the Israelis are going to withdraw from Gaza while they are speaking of controlling the sea and the air. Until the occupation completely ends, our resistance will continue," said Zahar. "When we hear something concrete, about full sovereignty, we will think about what is proposed to us," he said. "At this moment, our position stands firm. Our endeavor is a liberation endeavor, and if this liberation is not a full and comprehensive one, our endeavor will continue." |