Palestinian PM Says Peace Will Prevail if Israel Retreats to 1967 Borders
23 May 2006
Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh says his Hamas-led government will implement a long-term cease-fire if Israel pulls back to its 1967 borders, a demand Israel has previously rejected.
But in his interview with Israel's Haaretz newspaper, Mr. Haniyeh did not say whether Hamas is prepared to rewrite its charter that calls for the destruction of Israel.
The West has largely boycotted the Hamas-led government because of the Islamist group's refusal to do so.
Mr. Haniyeh also said Israel must turn over the tax revenues it has been withholding since Hamas took power in March.
Separately, Mr. Haniyeh said internal fighting between Hamas and Fatah-led security forces will not escalate into a Palestinian civil war. He spoke after the latest clash between the rival factions Monday.
In another development, Israeli forces captured a wanted Hamas militant Tuesday.
Hamed, who heads the West Bank military wing of Hamas, is alleged to have masterminded several suicide bombings against Israel.
His arrest in the West Bank city of Ramallah comes at a time when Israeli forces have been focusing on another militant group, Islamic Jihad, which has carried out the most recent attacks against Israel.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, Reuters and AP.
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