Following are excerpts
from an interview with Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Zahhar, which aired on
Future News TV on June 15, 2010:
Mahmoud Al-Zahhar:
We have liberated Gaza, but have we recognized Israel? Have we given
up our lands occupied in 1948? We demand the liberation of the West
Bank, and the establishment of a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with
Jerusalem as its capital – but without recognizing [Israel]. This
is the key – without recognizing the Israeli enemy on a single inch
of land.
This is our plan for
this stage – to liberate the West Bank and Gaza, without recognizing
Israel’s right to a single inch of land, and without giving up the
Right of Return for a single Palestinian refugee.
[...]
Our plan for this stage
is to liberate any inch of Palestinian land, and to establish a state
on it. Our ultimate plan is [to have] Palestine in its entirety. I say
this loud and clear so that nobody will accuse me of employing political
tactics. We will not recognize the Israeli enemy.
As for the issue of a
referendum – [the Palestinian Authority] is ready to impose its position
on people by force. Whoever wants to hold a referendum, and believes
that he can get all of Palestine for the Palestinians, can hold a referendum,
but will not give up the platform of resistance, and the plan to liberate
Palestine in its entirety. This is unequivocal.
[...]
If we could liberate
the Negev now, we would continue [our military activity], but our capabilities
dictate that after we got rid of the Israeli presence in Gaza, we must
finish off the remnants of that occupation, and move on to the West
Bank.