Hamas leader says would consider 10-year truce [prepare to destroy Israel
for 10 years]
By Haaretz Service and Agencies November 29 2004
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/507141.html

[IMRA: "Hudna" does not mean only "ceasefire" - it means "ceasefire to avoid
being defeated by a stronger enemey while gather the strength to attack"]

Senior Hamas leader Sheikh Hassan Yusef told Israel Radio that the militant
Islamic organization is interested in joining a national unity government
with the Palestinian leadership, and to that end would agree to a hudna
(ceasefire) that would last 10 years.

Yusef said he would not rule out a halt to suicide bombings against Israeli
targets during final status negotiations between Israel and the
Palestinians.

Hamas would also refrain from vetoing any agreement which in his view would
restore Palestinian rights.

Yusef, who was recently released from prison after his arrest during
Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002, called on Israel and the
international community to reconsider its characterization of Hamas as a
terrorist organization.

Hamas' desire to participate in political decision-making among the
Palestinian leadership is a reflection of the organization's "maturity,"
Yusef was quoted as saying by Israel Radio.

Hamas is aware of the new realities and would like to take advantage of the
opportunities that it believes has been presented to it, Yusef said.

Abbas: Palestinian state by 2005 still possible

The Palestinians will not accept an interim settlement with Israel, PLO
leader Mahmoud Abbas told the Arab League during a visit to Egypt on Sunday,
adding that the establishment of a Palestinian state in 2005 was still
possible.

Abbas, the front-runner in the race to replace Yasser Arafat as Palestinian
Authority chairman, said that the Palestinians are working to ensure a "real
democracy" through January 9 election for the new head of the PA.

Accompanied by Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia and interim
Palestinian Authority Chairman Rauhi Fattouh, spoke to reporters after
meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and other officials.

He said the talks with Mubarak and other officials focused on security in
the territories, the Palestinian community, democracy and the election.

"We will not accept a temporary solution," said Abbas, the Fatah candidate
for PA chairman. "It's a waste of time. Even a state with interim borders is
a waste of time. We're only 13 months from [the end of] 2005, so that's
enough to negotiate and put an end to this problem."

Abbas also spoke Sunday about reining in various Palestinian organizations,
saying the PA wants only its own security forces to be authorized to carry
weapons, Israel Radio reported.

"We want only one legally armed Palestinian force," the radio quoted Abbas
as saying.

Abbas has admitted, however, that the Palestinian Authority is not currently
prepared to take security responsibility following an Israeli pullout. He
said Egypt and the Palestinians would carry out previous agreements on
security and training.

In an interview to U.S. magazine Newsweek that was released Sunday, Abbas
described the situation as "some sort of chaos, especially in Gaza." The PLO
leader said "we are ready to take [Gaza] when we rebuild our security
apparatus... I'm working very hard to rebuild the security apparatus."

Abbas and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon each told Newsweek in separate
interviews that they are prepared to meet each other.

Abbas - who is seen as the only viable candidate for PA chairman - also
spoke to Egyptian officials about the upcoming elections, saying Sunday that
anyone is encouraged to run against him.

"We want a real democracy," he told reporters. "We will endeavor by all
means and under the supervision of all to hold democratic elections."

The European Union is sending some 170 observers to monitor the elections.

Mubarak told the Palestinians that Egypt was ready to offer security
assistance for the presidential election, as well as legislative and local
elections, said Mubarak's spokesman Maged Abdel Fattah.

"Egypt is interested in supporting the election process to be carried out
peacefully and quietly to prove to the international community the
unwavering Palestinian intention for peace," Abdel Fattah said.

Israel, however, is still blocking the opening in East Jerusalem of voter
registration centers for the Palestinian presidential election despite its
pledge to facilitate the ballot, Palestinian officials said Sunday.

A senior Israeli official said Israel's commitment to take all necessary
steps to help the Palestinians conduct a free and fair election, including
easing freedom of movement, remains in place. But five days into a week-long
registration period, Palestinian officials said voter offices in East
Jerusalem were unable to open because an Israeli ban imposed during a
September registration drive had not been lifted.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit and intelligence chief Omar
Suleiman will visit Israel and the Palestinian territories on Wednesday to
talk about the disengagement plan.