Sheikh Yassin: No peace unless Palestinian rights are restored

In statements today after being released by the Palestinian government Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader of Hamas, urged the group's followers to adhere to the charter of the movement.

He urged the Palestinian people to unify their struggle and resistance and he undertook Hamas' continuation in defending the Palestinian lands and that Hamas will not accept peace unless Palestinian rights fully return.

Sheikh Yassin also said, "We want an honorable peace, not a disgraceful one -- a peace that brings us back our homes and our sacred places."

Hamas is convening its first central festival in El-Shate camp in Gaza today after evening prayers in the presence of its Sheikh Yassin, whose house arrest was lifted by the Palestinian government this week.

Palestinian sources told ArabicNews.com that the Palestinian government never had an objection to the political and the informational work of the Palestinian opposition parties regardless of their ideological stances, adding that the Palestinian government insisted on guaranteeing these rights in the Wye River negotiations.