Hamas: We will resist Israeli settlements

Mahmoud al-Zahar, one of the leaders of the Palestinian group Hamas, has hinted that the Hamas will go on the resistance if Israel fully resumes Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank.

Following Sunday’s expiration of a 10-month moratorium on Israeli settlement construction, ‘‘They started the expansion of settlements, so what does this mean? It means that our lands will be taken for the Israelis,’’ al-Zahar said.

‘‘How are they (Palestinians in the West Bank) going to cope with that? Bless them or resist?’’ said al-Zahar, one of the founders of Hamas. ‘‘What is running in the West Bank is self-defense against Israeli occupation.’‘

Hamas has claimed responsibility for an Aug 31 attack on a vehicle in the West Bank that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli settlers.

‘‘This question should be answered first by the Israelis if they are ready to achieve peace,’’ al-Zahar said in the interview.

‘‘We practiced all the peaceful methods up to these moments as (Abbas) is holding direct peace talks and achieved nothing,’’ he said. ‘‘Only option we have is resistance.’’