SYRIA: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes speech at anniversary celebrations

Record ID: 279188

  • Title: SYRIA: Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal makes speech at anniversary celebrations
  • Date: 23rd January 2010
  • Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (JANUARY 22, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE AUDIENCE / PEOPLE CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 7th February 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA9W8OINLEHUWUIOHZJ5QL9YB29
  • Story Text: Hamas Leader Khaled Meshaal described the political movement in the region, on Friday (January 22) as a trick and a way to serve Israel. He said Obama will not give any guarantees to the Palestinian people.
    "The political movement that Mitchell does to the region is just a trick and a service for Israel. It is a way to lift the admonition up of Obama's administration. Concerning the guarantees, Obama's administration will not give you any and it will not cancel Bush's guarantees to Sharon 5 years ago", Meshaal said.
    Meshaal was delivering a speech during a popular celebration organised by Hamas to celebrate the first anniversary of the Israeli war on Gaza and the anniversary of the Hamas establishment.
    U.S. envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell held a tour to the region where he visited Syria, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories and met with their officials to discuss the peace process in the region.
    Meshaal said Hamas is interested in the National security and he urged Arab Leaders to form a strategy were the Arabs can be an important player in the region.
    He said: "We are with the national security. We are with a regional and international Arabic role. We do not want to any player to move on the expense of our security or role if there were a theory of this kind. We solve this when we (Arabs) initiate and become a strong player".
    He added: "We say to Turkey and Iran, you are our brothers in the Islamic nation. Come to draw a joint strategy to fight the only real enemy in the region which is Israel".
    Meshaal accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu of breaking the agreement of the prisoners deal and said that Israeli Soldier Gelad Shaleet would not be free unless the Palestinian prisoners are released.
    He said: "I say that clearly: Shaleet will not return to his home unless our male and female prisoners return".
    Hamas has captured Shaleet in 2006. A deal to exchange prisoners between Hamas and Israel is mediated by German mediation but the two side has not reached a deal yet.
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