Meshaal Leaves Gaza after Historic First Trip
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal left the Gaza Strip on Monday after a historic first visit to the tiny Palestinian enclave, a spokesman for the interior ministry said.
"Abu al-Walid (Meshaal) left the Gaza Strip through the Rafah terminal this afternoon after his historic visit," Islam Shahwan told Agence France Presse, referring to the Rafah crossing on the Gaza-Egypt border.
He had arrived in Gaza on Friday to join the celebrations marking 25 years since the founding of his Islamist movement, kissing the ground as he crossed into the tiny coastal strip for a four-day visit.
During the visit, he vowed never to give up even "an inch" of Palestinian territory or to recognize Israel, and called for reconciliation between Hamas and the rival Fatah movement which dominates the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority.
His visit came just over two weeks after an Egyptian-brokered truce ended an eight-day bloody confrontation with Israel which left 174 Palestinians and six Israelis dead.
10 December 2012, 17:45
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He's come, he's gone, and what did he do when he was there?
Only declare that Hamas would never recognise Israel.
So what possibility is there for peace between Israel and the Palestinians?
Even if as Abu Mazen declares he wants to reach this peace within 6 months of talks recommencing, how will he overcome the Hamas statements?
If the Palestinians are demanding a halt to building in Area E1 as a pre-condition to the talks, Israel should demand Hamas recognition of the State of Israel.
11 December 2012, 03:21
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Do you know what Israel is? What or where are its borders? Israel has not yet declared them. If you know what the Palestinians should recognize, please do tell us.
11 December 2012, 08:27
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I don't deny that I am pro-Israeli, but also am not closed off to seeing the advantages of co-operation and peace between all the peoples of the ME region.
Just like most of the world I am against the one-sided declarations of building in E1, but on the other hand I am also against the Hamas declaration that they will never recognise Israels' right to exist.
Peace will only come about through negotiations, and the sooner the better.
