Hamas objects to "Jewish State" because it voids the possibility of destroying Israel

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Mashaal emphasized that the Palestinian people were committed to the return of refugees to their homes and warned against any possibly of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.

"It's a definition that annuls the right of return to lands conquered in 1948," he said.

Of course a demilitarized Palestinian state is worthless if your aim is to murder all the Jews.

Ami Isseroff

Mashaal: Demilitarized state worthless

Jun. 25, 2009
jpost.com staff and AP , THE JERUSALEM POST

Hamas is prepared to cooperate with any international effort that brings an end to the occupation, but rejects the idea of a demilitarized Palestinian state, since this would be worthless, the group's Damascus-based leader Khaled Mashaal said Thursday during a speech in the Syrian capital Thursday.

"The Palestinian people reject the Israeli position presented recently [in Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's Bar Ilan speech] on a demilitarized state, refugees, Jerusalem and a Jewish state… a demilitarized state would not have serious political essence," he said in the televised speech. "The Palestinians will not accept Jerusalem as a united capital under Jewish sovereignty."

Mashaal emphasized that the Palestinian people were committed to the return of refugees to their homes and warned against any possibly of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.

"It's a definition that annuls the right of return to lands conquered in 1948," he said.

Concerning captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, the Hamas leader said, "The only choice Binyamin Netanyahu has to secure the soldier's release is through a serious prisoner exchange."

He said that Israeli stubbornness had hampered indirect talks and recent efforts.

"We will continue to do everything we can to free our prisoners," he said. "Hamas is committed to securing the release of all 12,000 prisoners."

Mashaal said he welcomed US President Barack Obama's new approach to the Middle East, but was waiting to see action. While the Hamas leader admitted that "there has been a change in Obama's language," he said the US president remains too sympathetic to Israel.

He said Obama's call to stop settlement activity was "positive, but not enough."

"We are in a new era - Israel can no longer defeat us," he continued. "It failed in its Nazi war in Gaza just like it failed in Lebanon. This is the result of resistance."

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