Bethlehem MP elected on the Hamas ticket, Anwer Zboun, speaks to AsiaNews as the Palestinian president and prime minister designate, amidst difficulties, try to hammer out a deal to form a new government.

Bethlehem (AsiaNews) – Hamas wants to reach a deal with Fatah so that it can join the government according to Anwer Zboun, a Hamas MP who spoke to AsiaNews. In Gaza Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah) and Prime Minister Designate Ismail Haniye (Hamas) are discussing a joint platform that would enable Hamas to go before the Palestinian Legislative Council and present its coalition government. However, the main obstacle remains the disagreement over the 1993 mutual recognition by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel, which Hamas continues to oppose.

Anwer Zboun, who was elected on the Hamas ticket in Bethlehem, said that "our problem is Israel's ongoing occupation". He restated Hamas' position: "We want Israel to pull back to the 1967 borders, the right of return for refugees, and the liberation of all prisoners. Only then shall we talk about the peace process".

"Hamas accepts the democratic process and believes in the existence of many parties in the Palestinian Legislative Council," Zboun explained. "For this reason, today as in the past we are negotiating will all Palestinian parties; especially Fatah, so that it can joint the next government".

The lawmaker said that "Hamas has no internal problems;" it is "Israel and its mass media that are trying to distort Hamas' positions and make it look like a terrorist organisation rather than a resistance movement opposed to the humiliation and slavery of occupation and defending Palestinian civilians".

Mr Zboun said that Hamas wants to reassure the international community that it is seeking "good relations" with the outside world.

"Last week's Moscow visit is part of our strategy and policy that began with our envoys' visit to Egypt, Sudan and Iran. In the future we will accept invitations from all of our friends.

Hamas today in fact announced that its leaders will soon travel to Saudi Arabia in search of political support and economic help. They will eventually go to Kuwait, Bahrain, Yemen, Malaysia and Indonesia.

As part of its strategy to enhance its credibility and foreign support, Hamas has distanced itself from al-Qaeda, whose ideologue, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a recent video offered it help.

Mr Zboun pointed out that "there is a great difference between Hamas and al-Qaeda. The latter is self-enclosed and does not seek any peaceful solutions. All it wants is to fight those nations that are against Islam. It does not differentiate between governments and nations, whereas Hamas, a resistance movement, is open and willing to trust [others], and has relations with other Palestinian parties and other countries, in the region and elsewhere".

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