Ynetnews reports: Chief of Hamas Political Bureau Khaled Mashal has once again made relatively moderate statements about his organization’s involvement in any future peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians in a conversation with Indian journalists on Tuesday.

Mashal said, speaking in English, “Hamas believes that we have full rights over the whole land and we don’t recognize occupation. Our fathers and grandfathers lived there. Hamas is also very much keen on a unified Palestine front. That is why we have accepted a joint Arab and Palestine program, based on 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, with the right of return of Palestinians expelled during years by successive Israeli governments.”

Asked about the apparent contradiction in his position, Meshal answered, “We are facing apartheid. Nobody can force us to treat Israel as friendly nation or a legitimate entity.”

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