Palestinian Prime Minister of Hamas Accepts Ceasefire, Says the Ball Is in Israel's Court

Haniyah: The ball is in Israel's court

Date: 23 / 04 / 2008 Time: 14:26
Gaza – Ma'an –

Palestinian Prime Minister in the Gaza-based de facto government, Isma'il Haniyah, on Wednesday reiterated that Hamas will only agree to a ceasefire with Israel if it is bilateral and leads to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 territories.

Speaking during inauguration of new children hospital in Gaza city, Haniyah said, "Commitment to a ceasefire depends on the halting of Israeli aggression and ending the crippling siege on the Gaza Strip."

He also highlighted that Hamas would go ahead with the ceasefire deal on condition that all other Palestinian factions agree to it.

"After Hamas reveals its final decision to the Egyptians, the ball will be in Israel's court," Haniyah said.

Haniyah said Hamas' approval of a Palestinian state on the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967 was nothing new.

"We agree on a Palestinian state on 1967 territories with Jerusalem as its capital, but free of Israeli settlements, adherence to the right of return of Palestinian refugees and no recognition of Israel," Haniyah said.

The de facto prime minister said Hamas has three stipulations before the Palestinian people are asked to vote on the issue in a referendum. These are, inter-Palestinian reconciliation, inclusion of Palestinians in exile if possible and if not the Palestinian National Council should be restructured to include Hamas and Islamic Jihad. The third pre-requisite is that none of the inalienable Palestinian principles can be included in the referendum.

Palestinian Prime Minister of Hamas accepts a conditional ceasefire with Israel

Wednesday April 23, 2008 17:17 by Rami Almeghari - 1 of International Middle East Media Center - IMEMC Editorial Group

In his first public appearance in several weeks, Palestinian prime minister of the ruling Hamas party in Gaza, Ismail Haniya, reiterated his party's acceptance of a ' comprehensive and mutual' ceasefire with Israel on Wednesday.

Haniya, who was speaking at an inauguration ceremony of a childrens' hospital in Gaza city, told reporters that any truce or ceasefire deal with Israel should be conditioned on the halt of all Israeli actions, including lifting the Gaza blockade and reopening crossing points.

He also said that a Palestinian national consensus should be secured in order for this ceasefire to come into effect, signaling necessary backing by Palestinian factions.

"our response to the Egyptians today will put the ball in the Israeli court, with respect to the ceasefire", Haniya made clear.

Cairo has been relentlessly involved in ceasefire mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel. Israel has yet to officially respond to all reports on possible ceasefire between the two sides.

As for the party's willingness to accept a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, including the West Bank , the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, Haniya maintained that such a state should not be accompanied with recognition of Israel, but rather based on a ten-year-long truce.

Regarding a possible public referendum on such a future state, the Hamas prime minister said that such a referendum should include Palestinian citizens of Israel and in the Diaspora.

The democratically-elected Hamas party took over Gaza in June 2007 amidst a power struggle with President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party. Since then Israel has imposed a crippling closure on Gaza, pressuring Hamas to stop homemade shells fired into its nearby territories.

Haniya: "The Ball is in The Israeli Court"

Gaza, April 23, 2008 (RNA) –

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya said on Wednesday that he had returned from Syria to Egypt with a new vision on several issues. "The truce, if Israel accepts it, must be mutual, comprehensive and simultaneous and must include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip," Haniya said during the inauguration of a children's hospital in Gaza.

He added that the mechanism of any truce should meet a national approval and such a peace deal must be agreed upon by a national unity government with all Palestinian factions, including both Hamas and Fatah, or must be put to a referendum.

Hamas leader Khaled Mesha'al said late on Monday that Hamas would accept the establishment of a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel in 1967, but that it would not recognize Israel.

Masha'al said "we accept a state on the June 4 line with Jerusalem as the capital, real sovereignty, and full right of return for refugees but without recognizing Israel."

"Our position affirms the geographic unity of Palestine and the unity of the Palestinian people," Haniya said.

He added that it was up to Israel whether or not to approve the ceasefire, saying "the ball is in the Israeli court."

He added that such a peace deal required a Palestinian state to be established with Jerusalem as its capital, the removal of all Jewish settlements in the West Bank, and an affirmation of the right of return of Palestinian refugees.

"The problem has always been with the Israeli occupation which will not accept a state even in the 1967 borders," Haniya said.

Haniya's comments came two days after visiting former US president Jimmy Carter who stated that Hamas would accept a peace deal with Israel if it were put to a Palestinian vote.

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