If declarations of war and peace should make part of a unanimous national
decision, then so should be all other decisions
Haneyya: No way to accept blacklisting of Hamas as terrorist
Hamas newspaper 25 February 2015
http://english.alresalah.ps/en/post.php?id=4543

GAZA, (Alresalah.ps)-- Deputy head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail
Haneyya, reiterated the group’s adoption of a strategy of non-interference
regarding Egyptian affairs, holding the Israeli occupation responsible for
the upshots of any projected aggression on Gaza.

Speaking at the International Scientific Conference on Palestine, held in
Gaza on Tuesday afternoon, Haneyya voiced Hamas’s firm rebuff of any attempt
at blacklisting Hamas as a terror group.

Hamas has never meddled in the Egyptian affairs; nor has it tampered with
Egypt’s security, he said.

As regards the crises rocking the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Hamas leader
said: “Our victorious and dear Gaza has gone through painful tragedies,
sharpened by delays in reconstruction, the tough blockade, and the salary
crisis.”

He slammed the Palestinian Authority and its premier for having been
dragging their feet vis-à-vis the tragic state of affairs in Gaza.

“From my national position, I call on the government to come to Gaza, take
up its national responsibility, and stop withholding salaries of civil
servants because of a certain affiliation or opinion,” he stated.

Tackling the reconciliation file, Haneyya said Hamas stepped down willingly
for the sake of national reconciliation and the Palestinian people.

“Reconciliation does not come with government line-ups only”, he stated,
wondering why and who has been standing as a stumbling block in the
consensus path.

“We are ready to put reconciliation files into effect. We urge all parties
to implement the bonds of the deals struck in Doha, Cairo, and Shati,”
Haneyya added.

“We do not opt for the monopolization of national decision-making. If
declarations of war and peace should make part of a unanimous national
decision, then so should be all other decisions,” he explained.

“Israel is to blame for any escalation on Gaza”, he said. “All former
offensives were waged against Gaza as part of intents to dash the hopes of
the Palestinian resistance. . . .But such wishes have never seen the day.
Gaza has always won and shattered the myth of the invincible army.”

“We are the victims of aggression, of wars, and of the blockade. Most of our
victims have been civilians whereas Israel’s have been soldiers,” he
concluded.

Haneyya’s speech came during the inaugurating sessions of the International
Scientific Conference: Palestine, The Reasons of Occupation and Motives of
Victory”.

A number of officials, including Turkish PM, Ahmad Davutoglu, former
Tunisian President, Moncef al-Marzouki, former Malaysian PM, Mahatir
Mohamed, and head of the Tunisian Nahda Party, Rashed Ghannouchi, are
expected to partake in video conferences to be aired via live streaming.

Chairman of the conference, Riad Shaheen, said the forum aims at
rehabilitating the role of elites and intellectuals in restoring optimism in
the region and spawning a cultural renaissance.