MIDDLE EAST: An Israeli withdrawal to 1967 borders will bring peace in the form of a long-term ceasefire, Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said in an interview published yesterday, in his most far-reaching comments to date on a possible accommodation between his Hamas-led government and the Jewish state.
"If Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, peace will prevail and we will implement a ceasefire [ hudna] for many years," Mr Haniyeh said in an interview in his Gaza office with the daily, Haaretz. Our government is prepared to maintain a long-term ceasefire with Israel."
Palestinian transport minister Ziad Zaza, who was present during the interview, added that the ceasefire would "be renewed automatically each time". Mr Haniyeh refused to discuss the Hamas charter, which calls for Israel's destruction, saying, "Leave Hamas aside now. I am speaking to you as the leader of the Palestinian government, the government of all the Palestinians, and not as the leader of a movement."
He also called on Israel to hand over the $50 million in customs duties it collects every month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and which it has withheld since Hamas formed the government in March.
Since being elected in February, Mr Haniyeh has only twice referred openly to the conditions under which his government would be willing to recognise Israel.
He was quoted in the Washington Post as saying he would recognise Israel in exchange for a withdrawal, but he swiftly denied having made such a comment. He also recently responded to an internal Palestinian proposal calling for a Palestinian state in 1967 borders and Palestinian recognition of all agreements signed with Israel.
The plan, Mr Haniyeh said, had to be "studied". In Gaza City, meanwhile, Hamas and Fatah leaders met yesterday in an effort to end clashes between the two rival groups that have left eight people dead in the last two weeks. One of the main issues of contention is the demand by Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas dismantle a 3,000-strong security force it deployed last week in Gaza.
While the meeting failed to produce results, Mr Haniyeh insisted the clashes would not descend into all-out warfare between Palestinians.