Mashaal: Gaza evacuation a deterrent to occupation; promises resistance
Palestine, Politics, 8/18/2005

Chairman of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, Khaled Mashaal, said in a press conference he held on Wednesday in Beirut, marking the beginning of the Israeli evacuation from occupied Gaza Strip, that the future Israeli goals which are built on settlements are diminishing and descending while the resistance acts started to increase and make achievements.

Mashaal stressed that resistance forced Sharon to withdraw from Gaza, and that blood of the martyrs had made the "legend." He said he recognizes that Sharon tries to protray the withdrawal from occupied Gaza as the ultimate end of the withdrawal process and as the end-line for Palestinian rights, stressing that continued resistance by the Palestinian people will foil what he called Sharon's schemes.

Hamas's political leader considered that the continued Israeli presence on the crossing, borders, sea and air of Gaza is a sort of a "Palestinian Shabaa," a reference to the still Israeli occupied Lebanese area of Sabaa Farms, remaking by that to the possibility of continued resistance in Gaza under perpetuated Israeli occupation of some of Gaza's parts.

Mashaal rejected the calls to drop resistance weapons, stressing that the movement will not accept any put down of these weapons which is directed to occupation. He said that this achievement, which is realized in Gaza, will be followed by another achievement in the West Bank which is still under occupation.

Mashaal talked about the Palestinian situation after withdrawal, stressing that his movement is not competing with the Palestinian Authority, but simultaneously rejects monopoly of decisions. He called on the Palestinian Authority to adhere to the participatory approach in national responsibility and in fighting corruption.

Concerning relation with Israel, Mashaal called on the Arab states not to normalize relations with it after its withdrawal from Gaza.

In a unique gesture from the Hamas movement, the chairman of the political bureau called on owners of Palestinian and Arab capital to invest in the liberated Palestinian territories but not to violate other responsibilities concerning helping detainees and martyrs's families.

Previous Stories:
  Jewish settler burns herself protesting removal of Israeli settlers   (8/18/2005)
  Sharon asserts continued settlements, condoles Gaza settlers   (8/18/2005)
  Palestinian cling to the 'right of return'   (8/17/2005)
  King warns against settling the Palestinians in Jordan   (8/17/2005)
  Mubarak and Abu Mazen discuss Israeli withdrawal from Gaza   (8/16/2005)

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