Israel Matzav

Hamas won't visit Jerusalem

You will recall that at the 'International Conference for the Defense of Jerusalem' in Doha, Qatar on Sunday, 'moderate' 'Palestinian' President Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen called for all Arabs to visit Jerusalem. For Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, that's not extreme enough. Haniyeh says don't visit Jerusalem, because it would constitute 'normalization with Israel.'

Hamas rejected Monday an invitation by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for Arab leaders to visit Jerusalem, dismissing Abbas's assertion that a visit to the city would not equal normalization with Israel.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said that Hamas officials would only enter Jerusalem in order to "deliver it from the occupation," according to Al Jazeera.

...

While Hamas turned down the offer, Barhoum urged Arab and Islamic leaders to put "political and media" pressure on Israel in order to isolate the Jewish state and impose "deterrent penalties against it."

Barhoum stressed that sentiment in the Arab world is aligned with the desire to "liberate Jerusalem, and rid it of the occupation."

"This is no longer impossible in light of the Islamic renaissance and the Arab Spring," he said.

Let them stay away, please. What could go wrong?

Labels: Abu Mazen, Hamas, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:54 AM