Why Is Hamas Recognizing Palestine On The 67 Borders?
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. Image by Getty Images
By Naomi Zeveloff March 9, 2017
In what could signal a major change, Hamas appears to be prepared to accept a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, but will still refuse to recognize Israel.
Previously, Hamas rejected Israel’s presence in historic Palestine, saying in its 1988 charter that there would be “no end” to conflict with Israel.
According to a report in the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, which was widely cited in the Israeli press, Hamas is finalizing a document in the next month or two that outlines its updated positions.
Haaretz reported that the document will define conflict with Israel as a fight against the occupation, and not against Jews. It will also officially break from the Muslim Brotherhood, after previously being defined as an arm of the group.
The updated policies reflect a wish on Hamas’s part to better relationships with bordering Egypt, where the Muslim Brotherhood is banned. Hamas also believes that international organizations and other nations will lift their boycotts of Gaza if the group recognizes Palestine on the 1967 borders, according to Haaretz.
Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected]
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
