Hamas considers the revised Israeli Gaza Strip pullout plan as an attempt to weaken the Palestinian position.
“With these new amendments, the Israelis are trying to make their withdrawal seem as some sort of a guarantee for Israel's security and not as a response to the Palestinian people’s struggle [against Israeli occupation]," said Osama Hamdan – Hamas representative in Lebanon.
"When Israel felt regional pressure for a withdrawal from Gaza Strip, they wanted to make the most of the situation by labeling the issue as an Israeli security decision rather than a handover of rights to the Palestinians," Hamdan added.
“We also expect a united Arab stance that supports Palestinian rights in general," added Hamdan.
Osama Hamdan also asserted that Hamas will be expecting a clear Egyptian response in support of the Palestinians. “The Egyptian suggestions were based on the first [Sharon's] plan [that was rejected by his party members], so it’s natural to want to revise our response to accommodate the changes in Sharon's new plan…we would like to hear Cairo's opinion about the newly-approved plan because the main issue now is over Israel's security and not the rights of the Palestinian people," Hamdan told Al Bawaba.
The past Egyptian suggestions included the declaration of a truce between Israelis and Palestinians following an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip. The Egyptians also suggested that any such truce should also be monitored by a team of international and Egyptian inspectors for violations from both sides.
Hamdan also commented by saying that "any suggested truce should be beneficial to the strategic interests of the Palestinian people. Israel is asking the resistance to give up the struggle for the sake of a plan – that is still not clear and not guaranteed – and is only supposed to start next March."
Regarding Hamas initiative over managing the Gaza Strip - Hamdan underscored the validity of their offer, however has requested time to amend their offer due to Sharon’s revised plan.
"Our offer still stands but there has now been significant change; first, the entire intention behind the withdrawal has been changed. Second, Sharon's plan has become a political deal which the Palestinians will pay for - I don’t think any Palestinian can afford to agree to this as it will trigger an internal [Palestinian] crisis," Hamdan explained.
Hamdan concluded by saying that Hamas is in contact with all the Palestinian factions so that a united front can be reached. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
