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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas' Bahar says he is for unity, protection of homeland |
| 2009-09-12 |
| Ma'an -- Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council Ahmad Bahar said he is for dialogue, unity and the reorganization of security forces so they can "protect our homeland and not Israel." Speaking during a Friday prayer in Gaza, Bahar said Palestinian political prisoners in the West Bank must be released so sides can get down to dialogue. His comments come following the release of an Egyptian conciliation plan to leaders of all Palestinian factions. Talks are set to start again in October. One element of the Egyptian plan addresses the reform and reunification of Palestinian security forces under Egyptian and Arab training and observation. Addressing the issue the Hamas leader said he supported strong security forces able to protect the country, and not ones focused on "Israel and chasing the resistance fighters," principally Hamas affiliates in the West Bank. Bahar also cautioned that "we do not want a dialogue based on an American Zionest agenda or on the vision of US President Barak Obama," but rather a dialogue that served the Palestinians. Commenting on the last dictate from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the issue of peace talks - that Palestinians must recognize Israel as a Jewish state - Bahar said "recognizing Israel as a Jewish state means the Palestinians from inside Israel do not exist." He went further saying any side that bowed to Netanyahu's request "is a betrayer." |
| Posted by:Fred |