Source: Ynetnews
Mar 21, 2007
The ruling "Palestinian" faction Hamas has reiterated, yet again, that none of its members will ever recognize Israel's right to exist.
Responding to criticism that Hamas' forging of a unity government with Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah represented a betrayal of its core values, outgoing PA Interior Minister Said Siam said that if any Hamas member ever recognized Israel, he would be ejected from the movement.
There isn't a chance any Hamas leader will ever recognize Israel. We will not betray our values... We will leave this world as martyrs without recognizing Israel.
In fact the platform that underlies the new unity government more closely reflects Hamas' long-time positions, rather than the "moderate" views that the West claims Fatah adheres to.
That platform, which was introduced last Saturday, conspicuously fails to recognize Israel's right to exist, and guarantees all "Palestinians" the right to engage in hostilities against the Jewish state.
Untroubled by the fact that Abbas and his Fatah allied themselves with Hamas under those terms, Washington and most European capitals responded to the unity announcement by declaring they would reestablish ties with the non-Hamas portions of the Palestinian Authority.