Alwaght - Hamas rejected the Israeli formula of 'peace in return for reconstruction' and insists on resistance against Israeli regime; however, this has frustrated many Arab leaders.
An official close to Hamas Movement today told the correspondent of Alwaght analytical news website that Hamas's position has provoked discontent of Arab leaders.
According to the report, Hamas's position on Israeli formula of 'truce for peace' has not yet changed and for this reason, the Movement is under intense pressure from Arab leaders.
Referring to the talks hold during Khaled Meshaal's trip to Saudi Arabia, the informed source, who asked for anonymity, said during the talks which were conducted within the framework of "Ramadan Umrah" pilgrimage, Saudi officials voiced their criticism over the Hamas's position on this issue. Saudis believe no one can help the people of Gaza unless Hamas gives its consent to peace with Israeli regime. During the meeting, Khaled Mashaal emphasized that the Palestinian will continue their resistance against the recognition of Israeli regime. He added: this has a cost, as we have paid the cost until now, and we will have to pay the cost in the future, too.
In a short meeting with senior Saudi officials, the Palestinian prisoners who were arrested by Saudis due to the recent visit of Hamas officials to Tehran, were released. In fact, this was the only outcome of Khaled Mashaal's visit to Saudi Arabia. However, his negotiations with officials in Riyadh, in order to put pressure on Cairo to improve the relations between Egypt and the Palestinian Resistance Movement failed, and the Saudi government said the ties between Cairo and Hamas will not improve unless Hamas and Islamic Jihad accept the conditions of the Palestinian National Authority.
Contrary to what most news related to visit made by Chief of Hamas Political Bureau to Saudi Arabia, the visit failed to thaw the relations between Hamas and Riyadh. In the past, the German Foreign Ministry officials, traditional mediator between the Palestinians and Israeli regime, which had travelled to occupied territories to address the issue of Gaza reconstruction, in a meeting with Hamas officials noted that Tel Aviv insists that any attempts for reconstruction of Gaza is bound to recognition of Israel by the Palestinian Resistance Movement. Meanwhile, Hamas leaders put emphasis on the human aspects of reconstruction and the Palestinians' natural right to live in the Gaza Strip, and reiterated that Hamas opposes to any attempt to recognize occupying regime.
It is worth mentioning that due to the sensitivity of Khaled Mashaal's visit to Saudi Arabia and expectations about the compliance of Hamas officials to "peace in return for reconstruction" initiative, the news of the meeting was widely broadcasted in a short time, to the extent that up to 704000 news article and comments were produced on social pages about the event. Hamas officials had already requested to meet with the Saudi officials; however, with several months of delay, Riyadh invited the head of the Hamas political bureau to visit them in "Ramadan Umrah".