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Hamas warns of violence

Conal Urquhart

End confiscation of land, says militia

Ramallah: Hamas has warned that if the new Israeli Government did not begin peace negotiations and end the confiscation of Palestinian land it would revert to ``armed resistance'' to the occupation of the West Bank.

Hamas declared a ceasefire more than a year ago and has renewed it for another year. But Mahmoud Ramahi, Hamas's spokesman in the Palestinian Parliament, said Palestinians had the right to renew hostilities within the West Bank if the occupation continued, though he ruled out a renewal of suicide attacks within Israel. Such attacks were part of a policy of retaliation for the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army, a policy which had now ended, he said.

Mr. Ramahi said: ``We have been observing the elections very carefully because they affect us directly. We hope they will change their policies towards us. So far we have heard some positive things and there has been a change in rhetoric from the campaign but there is still the questions of "who is a partner for peace."

They said [Yasser] Arafat was not a partner for peace, then [Palestinian president] Mahmoud Abbas and now Hamas. I can only imagine that their ideal partner is another Israeli.'' He said the question of Hamas recognition of Israel was irrelevant as any negotiations would be carried out by Mr. Abbas. ``Negotiation is the job of the PLO. When there is a final agreement there should be a referendum of Palestinians everywhere and we will respect the result,'' he said. —

© Guardian Newspapers Limited 2004

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