Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Friday he will not head a government that recognizes Israel. Haniyeh spoke a day after President Abbas indicated at the United Nations that a coalition government of Hamas and Abbas' Fatah movement would recognize the Jewish state.
"I personally will not head any government that recognizes Israel," Haniyeh said in a mosque sermon in Gaza City. However, Haniyeh said Hamas is ready to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.
"We support establishing a Palestinian state in the land of 1967 at this stage, but in return for a cease-fire, not recognition," Haniyeh said.
Earlier Friday, Haniyeh's political adviser, Ahmed Yousef, said instead of recognizing Israel, Hamas was ready to offer a "long-term truce for five or 10 years, until the occupation withdraws."
Yousef said renouncing violence was a clause of the agreement underlying the planned coalition government. He was unclear on what Hamas would do if coalition talks break down.
