Haniyeh: Retreat to 1967 borders will bring peace

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has told Ha'aretz newspaper that Hamas are willing to offer Israel a long term ceasefire if Israel will withdraw to the 1967 border.

"If Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders, peace will prevail and we will implement a cease-fire [hudna] for many years," Haniyeh said during an interview in his south Gaza office. "Our government is prepared to maintain a long-term cease-fire with Israel."

Palestinian Transportation Minister Ziad Zaza described the hudna during the interview as "the cease-fire that will be renewed automatically each time."

The prime minister wouldn't discuss the Hamas charter, which reject Israel's existence, saying, "Leave Hamas aside now - I am speaking to you as the leader of the Palestinian government, the government of all the Palestinians, and not as the leader of a movement."

Haniyeh expressed his disappointment that his government are always referred to as the "Hamas government" rather than simply as the Palestinian government.

He also said that Israel must transfer the monies that it owes to the Palestinians, the lack of which is causing much of the tension on the streets of the West Bank and Gaza, where no-one - including members of the goverment - are being paid.

The money Israel has recently released for medicines represents a mere fraction of the monies owed.

So we now have an offer of a ceasefire from a Palestinian government that has maintained a ceasefire with Israel - a ceasefire that the Israelis have not reciprocated with - for over a year, on top of previous offers of "quiet for quiet."

Despite all this, Olmert insists that he will not negotiate, even with the moderate Abbas, and that Israel will continue to define her borders unilaterally.

At this point any fair minded person must ask, who really is the obstacle to peace in the Middle East?

Click title for Ha'aretz article.

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Tags: Israel, Palestine, quiet for quiet, Hamas, ceasefire, negotiations, Haniyeh, Abbas, 1967 border,