By Meredith Lee-Clark
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East
GAZA CITY, Gaza – Khaled Mashaal, the leader of Hamas, said he sees “no prospects” in the near future for a Middle East peace settlement, saying that Israel promotes “war and occupation, thus blocking meaningful negotiations regarding the Palestinians, Syria, and Lebanon.”
Mashaal made his statements after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Russia has tried to restart peace talks among the parties in Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Mashaal expressed his doubt at any success by the Russians.
“We appreciate any role that Russia and other countries could play in the Mideast peace process, but only Egypt has the real capability to settle the problem,” said Mashaal.
Hamas has remained defiant of international attempts at restarting peace talks both between the Palestinians and the Israelis, as well as between the two opposing Palestinian factions. Hamas, which has governed the Gaza Strip since 2006, has long been at odds with the other Palestinian party, Fatah, which governs the West Bank. Egypt has proposed a comprehensive peace deal between Hamas and Fatah, though Hamas has refused to sign.
The dispute between Hamas and Fatah could have serious consequences for the residents of Gaza, as the hostilities have spilled over to local infrastructure. Gazans, already beleaguered by the continuing effects of the war between Hamas and Israel during the winter of 2008-2009 and the ongoing Israeli blockade, may be hit by increasingly frequent power outages. The Palestinian Authority, which is governs the West Bank and is predominantly made up of Fatah members, is in a financial dispute with the Gaza-based distribution company. Critics have accused the Palestinian Authority of using the dispute as leverage against Hamas.
In a rare conciliatory move, Hamas has expressed regret for Israeli civilian deaths that resulted from Hamas rockets during the 2008-2009 Gaza War. In a response to the U.N. Goldstone Report, Hamas released a statement saying, “We regret any harm that may have befallen any Israeli citizen…We hope the Israeli citizens understand that their government’s continued attacks on us were the key issue and the cause.”
For more information, please see:
Los Angeles Times – Power Struggle Could Portend a Cold, Dark Winter in Gaza Strip – 10 February 2010
Associated Press – Hamas Sees “No Prospects” for Mideast Peace – 8 February 2010
Reuters – Hamas Regrets Civilian Deaths, Israel Unmoved – 5 February 2010
Christian Science Monitor – Hamas Threatens to Take Fight Against Israel Beyond Gaza – 2 February 2010
