Hamas leader in Lebanon tells prisoners jailed in Israel some Palestinian factions expressed read…

Several Palestinian factions expressed their willingness to join a Hamas government, a senior group figure in Lebanon says. In a phone call to Hamas prisoners jailed in Israel – a call that was played on the public address system for the benefit of hundreds of detainees – Osama Hamdan said Hamas urged all Palestinian factions, and particularly Fatah, to join the new government. However, Hamdan noted Fafah will be the big loser should the movement decide to stay out of the government, „as this will be considered as renunciation of their national responsibility.” The Hamas figure said efforts to form a coalition will continue even if Fatah refused to join the government. Hamdan added that Hamas’ election win will lead to a change in direction for the Palestinians, particularly in light of what he characterized as the „dangerous deviation” of the Oslo Accords. ‘Hamas ready for ‘long-term truce’ Later, Hamdan said the Palestinian people’s vote constituted a vote of confidence in the road of resistance and reform. The group’s diplomatic plan, as presented during the talk, includes the „principles of a long-term truce that would see the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian country with Jerusalem as its capital according to the 1967 borders.” However, Hamdan did not say whether Hamas will consider such solution as a final-status remedy to the conflict. Hamas’ position, as presented in recent days, stressed such long-term cease-fire would only serve as a temporary solution until a Palestinian stated is created in place of Israel. The Hamas figure told prisoners the group was not surprised by the election results, and added Hamas would not cave in to international pressure that conditions continued aid to the Palestinians on „taking away political positions from the Palestinian leadership and from the Hamas movement.” Hamdan estimated Europe and the international community will resume their aid once they are over the shock created by Hamas’ victory, „particularly after they see a different Hamas approach when it comes to the war on corruption.”