TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned Palestinian movement Hamas against any “compromise” in its fight against Tehran’s nemesis Israel, his official website reported.
“Always be wary of infiltration by compromisers in a resistance organisation, which will gradually weaken it,” Khamenei told the visiting Hamas Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniya, according to the leader.ir website.
“We have no doubt about your resistance and that of many of your brothers, and the people only have this expectation of you,” said Khamenei, reaffirming that Iran “will always be alongside the Palestinian resistance”.
Khamenei’s comments come as divisions within Hamas have emerged on a possible overhaul of the organisation’s strategy. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal signed an agreement with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas earlier this month placing Abbas at the head of an interim government charged with organising elections later this year.
The agreement struck by Meshaal’s foreign-based leadership with Abbas’ Fatah faction has run into serious opposition from Hamas members inside the Gaza Strip, which the movement has controlled since ousting the president’s loyalists in 2007.
In November, Meshaal called for “peaceful popular resistance,” which would represent a shift in the movement away from armed struggle.
He also expressed support for the establishment of a Palestinian state on territories occupied in 1967 in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem as its capital.
Haniya was quoted as telling Khamenei that the goal of Hamas remained “freedom of all the Palestinian land from the (Mediterranean) sea to the (Jordan) river, the refusal of peace talks and the Islamic character of the Palestinian struggle”.
On Saturday, Haniya said in a speech in Tehran that Hamas “will never recognise Israel”.
“They want us to recognise the Israeli occupation and cease resistance but, as the representative of the Palestinian people and in the name of all world’s freedom seekers, I am announcing from Azadi Square in Tehran that we will never recognise Israel,” Haniya said.
Israel, which views Hamas as a terrorist organisation and Iran as its sponsor and weapons supplier, has warned Fatah against efforts to reconcile with the movement.
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@harish: First of all, Palestine is actually a very important land for Muslims, having the 3rd most sacred mosque after the one in Saudi Arabia and the one in Syria and actually Muslims in Haj are required to travel to Palestine after doing so in Saudi Arabia. I'm an Atheist just like you, so I ask you a question that requires thinking on ethical basis. Do you really believe that Israel could just appear in 1948 and just move away all Arabs from the land and then call for peace like nothing just happened? I'm sorry but I can never find anything that can justify this even if Arabs are terrorists now, and even if some Israelis have hot white chicks. The world simply doesn't work like this, you can't take somebody's elses land and pretend like nothing happened full stop!
@harish: Tell you gov that Kashmir is no bigger the isreal!!!
@harish:
Then tell me one thhing. Why the hindus in India destroy babri Masjid (also a small piece of land) which results in killing of so many people . If you think that there is spritual link of hindus with the land of babri masjid then please note that the palestine is very very important for te muslims believer and Israel has illegally occupy the land.
The one thing radical Mullah's have in common -- they are always quick to send others into combat why they sit comfortably in the background contemplation their next speech.
@harish: to antanu g "Indonesian muslims have nothing in common with a sudanese muslim." Any Muslim need not go outside his country to find "commonality" with other Muslims. Muslims in any Islamic country have nothing in common with Muslims in their own country. Take Pakistan. World is witness to Pakistani Muslims (Suni/ Shia) clawing and mauling Pakistani Muslims (Shia/ Suni) preferably when the other is communing with their common God in their mosques. And, both probably go after poor Qadhianis and Ahmedis and other miscellaneous sects of Muslims. Sudanese Arab Muslims hunt poor Sudanese African Muslims. "For, if one Muslim hurts, doesn't the whole ummah hurt"!!!!!
@harish: but at least they are using Hamas for a right cause
@antanu g to say the truth i don't hate muslims, i am an aethist myself. I just feel it is unfair and irrational for the entire islamic world to gang up on israel for a tiny peace of land that has very little significance to muslims, but is the only place jews can call home. Why should these iranians irrationally hate israel and threaten its destruction? Isreal did not have any hate against iran before they started calling for its destruction(which was in 1979 after the islamic revolution). All this talk of global islamic 'ummah' is not only false but dangerous. Indonesian muslims have nothing in common with a sudanese muslim. If all muslims realise this and take pride in their respective countries and civilisations, no such problem would arise. The problem arises because a few misguided individuals think they should come together and make their religion dominate the world.
what's wrong with dialogue and little adjustment? why can't they live in peace?
@harish: unrealistic comparison bro. situations are far different.dont comment on the basis of your misguided hate for muslims.
Iranians are using Hamas as hunting dogs against israel.......Just as china uses pakistan against India.....
Brave palestinians are close to their freedom - why would they cease their resistance when they have already touched an Isreal free Palestine.