Mashaal to CNN: We need recognition, not Israel

Head of Hamas’s political bureau Khaled Mishaal criticized in an interview with the CNN on Thursday the pressures made on the Palestinians to recognize Israel and said the Palestinians themselves need international recognition.

Interviewed by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Mishaal said Israel was responsible for the recent escalation in the Gaza Strip after it had carried out incursions and assassinated Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari, denying that Hamas deliberately targeted civilians as Israel did.

“The resistance does not target civilians. We should go back to the root of the problem. The Palestinian people had been living quietly and peacefully before the Israelis occupied our land and according to the international law, the peoples have the right to resist with everything they possess. Israel has an advanced army and has committed many massacres like Deir Yassin, and Sabra and Shatila,” the Hamas official stressed.

“We defend our people and retaliate, and as the leader of Hamas I will say through the CNN that we are ready to use peaceful ways without bloodshed or weapons if we can obtain our Palestinian national demands represented in ending the occupation, establishing the Palestinian state and fulfilling the other national goals,” he stated.

Mishaal also noted that the late Palestinian president Yasser Arafat had given Israel and the international community the opportunity to reach a peaceful solution, but Israel killed him.

“Even Mahmoud Abbas, who was welcomed by the world, has given such an opportunity to Israel and the international community, but what has happened? They let him down and fail,” he added.

Asked about his Movement’s readiness to recognize Israel, Mashaal averred that “the recognition must come from the party which has been waging attacks and has a military arsenal, and not from the victim.

He also pointed out that there was an Arab peace initiative, but Israel persisted in the killing of Palestinians.

“There are only two ways before us, either the presence of an international will from the US, Europe and the international community forcing Israel onto the path of peace and the establishment of the Palestinian state within the 1967 borders including the right of return, and this is unanimously accepted by the Palestinians, or the persistence of Israel in refusing that forcing us to continue the option of resistance,” the Hamas leader asserted.

“I accept a state within the 1967 borders, but how can I accept Israel as it is occupying my land? I need recognition, not Israel,” he added.