Sheikh Yassin: A baby back to his mother's womb
Palestine, Politics, 10/8/1997

³I feel like a baby who has returned to his mother¹s womb,² said Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, the spiritual leader and founder of Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, in one of the interviews he gave to scores of journalists who gathered at his house as of Monday afternoon upon his return from Amman, Jordan. It was a morning he has longed for throughout the past eight years of his imprisonment in Israeli jails. Sheikh Yassin woke up that day fresh and full of hope. He appeared at ease and warmly welcomed hundreds of well-wishers who came to congratulate him on his release. An army of journalists had arrived too, with each hoping to get the scoop of his life, but most were disappointed at the fact that they all had, more or less, returned with the same coverage. The Sheikh, who had undergone intensive medial checks in Amman after his release and before his return to Gaza, chose to be as brief and right to the point as possible. That, many believed, would help him say less and less while maintaining more and more energy.

Here are excerpts of interviews he gave to a number of journalists who came to his house in Gaza:

On suicide bombing attacks:
SHEIKH YASSIN: Israel calls them suicide bombers or terrorists. For us they are martyrs . Hamas in the past has proposed to Israel a cease-fire in hostilities on both sides. If Israel ceases its hostilities against the Palestinians, then we will also stop ours. We don¹t like attacking civilians, and our religion forbids us from doing it. But when Israel attacks civilians, destroys homes, deports people, expropriates land and murders women and children - we cannot sit by quietly. Let them leave our civilians alone and we will leave theirs alone. That¹s what I proposed: an end to actions against the occupation, provided there is an end to the occupation.²

On the proposed cease fire:
SHEIKH YASSIN: ³That¹s not exactly correct. Several days before I was released from jail, (CBS correspondent in Israel) Bob Simon asked me about this proposal. I told him that if Israel was prepared to leave the occupied lands and cease its hostile activities against the Palestinians - we would be prepared to have a cease-fire. Israel must leave the Palestinian lands and not keep control of half or three-quarters of them. A cease-fire will only be possible if Israel implements these conditions.²

No deal for release:
SHEIKH YASSIN: ³There was no deal. The only arrangement we agreed upon was the moment my health improved I would return to my home in Gaza.²

Our conflict is not with the US but with those who usurped our rights:
SHEIKH YASSIN: ³We are not a large superpower that can compete with the United States. We have a stolen birthright. I, for example, have a house and land in Ashkelon, someone else has a house and land in Jaffa and a third in Gaza. Our lands were taken from us, and we are just demanding what we deserve. We don¹t hate the Jews, and we are not fighting them because they are Jews. But I tell you that even if my brother takes my house and kicks me out - I would fight him. So when a Jew takes my house away from me - I fight him. I am not fighting in the United States, in Britain or in any other country. I live in peace with all people and want things to be good for everyone, including the Jews.²

On relations wit the PNA:
SHEIKH YASSIN: ³I will make every effort to see that happen. With Allah¹s help the relationship will be good. We won¹t allow civil war. Despite all the US¹ and Israel¹s tricks and plans, we will not fight against the Palestinian Authority. And even if they (the PA) attack us, even if they arrest us, even if they murder us - we won¹t attack in return. We will not allow Palestinian blood to be spilled.²

Previous Stories:
  Hamas and Arafat and the King   (10/7/1997)
  A tamer Sheikh Yassin is back   (10/6/1997)
  Will Netanyahu resign   (10/5/1997)

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