Oh how thoughtful of you, a thread just for me.
Hey Basketcase, put a link in when you quote. Otherwise I might think you're making things up like Fuji.
Here it is, in case anyone else wants to read it:
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/hamas-leader-in-gaza-vows-group-will-never-recognize-israel-1.330593
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/africa-mideast/we-will-never-recognize-israel-hamas-leader-vows/article1838117/
Two quite different takes.
From the Globe:
Two weeks ago, however, it appeared to be a somewhat different story. Then, Mr. Haniyeh told a group of reporters that Hamas would actually respect any peace deal reached between Israel and the Western-backed Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas, provided it is approved in a global Palestinian referendum.
But now since Israel killed any peace talks, that's off.
And also from the article:
Mr. Haniyeh also said on Dec. 1 that “we don’t have a problem with establishing a viable Palestinian state with full sovereignty on the land that was occupied in 1967.”
This goes along with their new plan and tactic of applying directly to the UN for an independant declaration of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, which might be a better alternative then the one state solution for all concerned. And since we've already had 3 south american states recognize this plan and now the EU seems to be going that way too:
A text, seen by The Daily Telegraph, warned of EU "readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state" increasing the international pressure on Israel following the effective collapse of direct Middle East peace talks last week.
Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, on Monday called "on the EU to take a step towards recognition of the state of Palestine based on the 1967 borders".
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8199643/Europe-threatens-to-recognise-Palestinian-state.html
And more from the Globe article:
And while most Hamas leaders now say they do support the idea of establishing a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, along with a 10- or 20-year truce with Israel, they make it clear that such an arrangement would entail “no recognition of Israel and no concessions over any part of the land of Palestine.”
Mr. Haniyeh’s view of Palestine is that it extends “from the [Mediterranean] Sea to the [Jordan] River,” he reassured his followers Tuesday.
Since Abbas has failed so miserably and is set to dismantle the P.A., Hamas may be left in the driver's seat. Their plan for recognition does not include recognizing Israel, but I'm sure the Israeli plan doesn't include recognizing Israel either. As long as the UN goes along and some semblance of a peaceful plan could happen it would be good.
Whether or not Israel would be willing to give back the land they stole, or be willing to let settlements fall under Palestinian rule remains to be seen. But if they don't and the international community backs this plan, their only other option would be the one state solution.