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Hamas reiterates right to resist Israel

Chris McGreal

Jerusalem: Efforts by Hamas to form a national unity government that will win international acceptance are faltering after the group delivered a statement of principles to the Palestinian president that the administration reserves the right to ``reassess'' peace accords with Israel.

The Hamas Prime Minister-designate, Ismail Haniyeh, has spent weeks trying to draw the defeated Fatah party into the government but his efforts suffered a further setback at the weekend at a meeting with Mahmoud Abbas, the Fatah leader and Palestinian President.

Mr Haniyeh presented a statement of principles for the new government which sources said failed to meet demands by the President, as well as Israel and foreign Governments, for clear recognition of the Jewish state, an end to violence and a commitment to abide by existing agreements.

Mr Abbas, in his letter asking Mr Haniyeh to form a government after Hamas's landslide election victory, said he expected a public commitment from Hamas that its administration will honour accords with Israel. But the Hamas document took a different position.

``The Palestinian Government will address the reality created following previous agreements between the Authority and the occupation and it is the right of the Government to reassess these agreements on the basis of international law and in accordance with the rights of the Palestinian people,'' it said.

On the question of recognising Israel, Hamas was non-committal.

— © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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