A senior Hamas leader on Sunday ruled out chances of implementing a historic Hamas offer for a long-term truce with Israel in the time being.
The offer was first made by late Hamas spiritual leader, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, who said that Hamas can accept a ceasefire with Israel, possible to exist for 20 years, in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from all the Palestinian land it occupied in the 1967 war. The Islamic movement would not recognize Israel in exchange.
The offer "was not canceled," says Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader based in Gaza. However, "it has no room to implement in the time being." Zahar added.
"There is no one to talk with about this proposal in the other (Israeli) side," Zahar added. This was a project "that can be developed when there are intentions."
Zahar's remarks were made a day after Ismail Haneya, Hamas' prime minister, said his government can accept a Palestinian statehood in Gaza Strip, West Bank and East Jerusalem; the territories that were occupied in 1967.
Haneya made his statements as he met 11 European parliamentarian who sailed into the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip to defy Israel's blockade on the territory.
Haneya told his guests that Israel rejected his offer which also included a long-term truce.
Hamas observes an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire with Israel. The six-month lull, took effect in June, went shaky this week following a series of Israeli airstrikes that killed six Hamas militants and the ensuing Palestinian rocket attacks.
Source:Xinhua
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