Hamas leader Yassin in Syria
Syria-Palestine, Politics, 5/22/1998

Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly Abdul Qader Qaddoura on Thursday received the founder of the Palestinian national resistance movement Hamas Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, in the presence of chairman of the movement's political bureau, Khaled Mishal, and several of the movement's leaders.

Talks dealt with current conditions in the region and the Israeli oppressive practices against the Arab people in the occupied lands and means of challenging these practices. Sheikh Yassin praised "Syria's national and unswerving stances under the leadership of President Hafez Al-Assad" and called upon Arab forces to unify their ranks to confront Israeli intransigence and hegemony in the Arab region.

Later in the day, Syrian Information Minister Muhammad Salman received Sheikh Ahmad Yassin in the presence of Khaled Mishal, Moussa Abu Marzouk, Samir Ghouseh, Imad al-Alamai, members of the movement's political office and its representative in Damascus, Abu Muhammad Mustafa. Talks dealt with the role played by the Palestinian national resistance movement against the Israeli occupation.

Sheikh Yassin, who arrived in Damascus earlier on Thursday morning and expressed "happiness to visit Damascus for the first time" and to meet with Syrian officials and his Palestinian "brothers," said that his visit is part of his tour of several Arab countries to explain the question of Palestine and current conditions in the Palestinian arena in order to reach a united stand providing for liberating "Jerusalem, the holy al-Aqsa mosque and the Palestinian territories."

Sheikh Yassin described the results of his current tour of several Arab states and Iran as "successful, fruitful and good" in which he has found support for the struggle of the Palestinian people to liberate their lands. He reiterated his rejection of the Oslo accords, stating, "What has been taken by force, can only be restored by force." He asserted the need to unite the Palestinian groups, noting that the Palestinian people will prove they are strong, yet the Palestinians "are in need of all forms of political, media, financial and social backing."

He asserted that the Hamas movement has been always working against inter-Palestinian conflict, adding that on this ground, "We have extended our hands to the Palestinian authority, as well other Palestinian groups" to avoid confrontation.

Sheikh Yassin held Israel responsible for the death of Mouhidin al-Sharif, noting his death will be revenged in "due time."

Previous Stories:
  Hamas leader in Damascus   (5/21/1998)
  Palestinian groups in Damascus review Palestinian developments   (4/23/1998)
  Hamas' Yassin to visit Damascus, major leadership change in Hamas   (4/20/1998)

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