Khaled MASHAL Spoke to Kudusyolu (Quds Way)

Editor-in-chief of Kudusyolu (Quds Way) Mohammad Jihad Saatcıoglu, visited Hamas Political Bureau Leader Khaled Mashal at his home. Our administrator M. Jihad who mentioned about the actions of Muslims from Turkey gave Mashal some information about the aid organisations that Turkey Muslims organized for Palestine people at the interview. In the visit in which Khalid Mashal presented some wishes and advice for Muslims and the young fromTurkey, he thanked to the administration of Kudusyolu for the work done and to everybody involved in the Palestine- Pakistan kermess organized recently.

We are publishing the interview in which many issues from the policy of Hamas against the occupier Zionists to the visit of Russia, from the tension of Hamas-El Fatih to the developments and problems concerning the aid for the Palestine Government.

“To legitimize Israel is out of discussion”

Kudusyolu: Israel has already occupied the eighty percent of the Palestanian lands. Under these circumstances, a “Legitimize Israel” voice meaning “accept that these lands belong to Israel” has been louder. We hear from the authorized persons that as a principle, Hamas will avoid a negotiation of legitimizing Israel. On the other hand, processes such as a negotiation with Israel or an armistice are coming up. Could you tell us about your policy on this point?

Khaled Mashal: As you have stated, Israel has occupied all the Palestinian lands including West Bank, excluding Gaza. The occupation powers had to go out of Gaza because of the resistance pressure at the last process. Despite this, the whole Palestine lands including Gaza are under a dense Zionist siege.

Our Palestine issue – as Hamas movement – includes all the Palestinian lands. This our natural right and abandoning this right or retreating cannot be discussed. Consequently, the whole of the Palestinian lands has to be taken back, all of the Palestinians, including refugees, have to resume liberty in their own lands.

However, in Cairo last year, we had declared armistice for one year with Hamas and some Palestinian constitutions. In return, the Israeli powers were going to fall back. But that did not mean legitimizing Israeli existence, but keeping the struggle on under some circumstances. Today we think that a negotiation is meaningless. Israel does not have an idea of giving the Palestine’s right back. Israel is after carrying on the occupation…

We are resisting against the opressions and siege of the USA and Israel. There are definitely no connections between negotiation and armitice and legitimizing Israel’s existence.

Kudusyolu: Ehud Olmert has stated that as Israel government, they have not determined their final borders. What is Olmert’s aim do you think?

Khaled Mashal: Olmert’s project is a continuation of Ariel Sharon. They have preferred to determine the borders with walls. They will give us some seperated parts and West Bank in a way that the north will be apart from the south. They will keep the Palestinian away from Quds. They will prevent the Palestinian refugees from coming back. As a result, thüer going back to their borders before 1967 is out of discussion.

Olmert is after expanding all over the region as occupation powers and firstly seperating from the Palestinian unilaterally. Olmert is trying to take all the Palestinian out of the lands they have occupied and to establish a state which consist of just Jews. This project indicates that Zionists are a racist constitution beyond being enemies and terrorists..

We are aware of this dangerous project at all costs; we definitely refuse this project and we are going to give a serious struggle against this project by consent of Allah.


Kudusyolu: As you know, Arabian countries avoid giving the money they have raised to the Palestinian government which is under the direction of Hamas. How do you explain this situation?

Khaled Mashal: The USA is oppressing the countries in the region in order to subdue the legal Palestinian government and Palestinian people. The USA is trying to punish Palestinian people and government in its own way. This attitude of them displays how a tyrant state it is, how it applies double standards in the region. Yesterday the USA asked for democracy; today it has declared war against the results of democracy. As is known by everyone, the elecetions of Palestine was a hundred percent transparent.

The USA has been oppressing the Arabian countries in the region for not supporting the new government and the Palestinian people. Some of the Arabian countries have tried to resist against this oppression and struggled for the aids to reach at Mahmut Abbas.

Even if we accept this situation as something negative up to one point, we also support it at one point. To conclude, we deprecate the siege of the Palestiian government. Besides, if the aids are wanted to be given, they must reach at the ministry of finance. Because the sole official organisation concerning payment is the ministry of finance.

The USA and its allies think that with this cruel siege they will be able to bring down the government or to make Hamas make concessions. But they are wrong; Hamas is not going to give any political concessions. Such a thing will never happen. Our attitude is evident. The Palestinian people are supporting us and standing by us.


Our people know the truth. Hamas tries its best; it is struggling for the support of the countries in the region. We have also got a lof help. But we have another problem about how we will bring these aids into the borders of Palestine. Because the USA is threatening the Palestinian, Jordanian, Arabian banks in general.

Inshallah we will break through this siege. I am calling all Muslims and Arabian countries to help us. This is a tyranny. The Palestinian people have the right of expecting the help and support of Islamiz people.


Kudusyolu: There was a skirmish between Fetih and Hamas students recently. Some words of yours had been used as a material at the point of producing a skirmish. What would you like to say about this?

Khaled Mashal: Some political sides in the Palestine arena are trying to give harm to the Palestine ideal; to make the Palestinian government dysfunctional. On the other hand, these political experiencies cannot stand any kind of criticism.

The Hamas leaders and I had criticised these people and their attitudes. For these people not only attributed to the project of dysfunctioning and siege of the government but also were trying to prevent the government from using the financial sources.

They got angry with this criticism. Instead of responding the critism with critism, they took to the streets. They used weapons; they made skirmishes at universities. This manner not only displays their anarchist approach but also shows that they insist on the wrong. They are keeping on their attitude against the peace of the country; making the government that not only Hamas but also the Palestinian people have elected invalid; they think that ‘We do what we like and noone can call us to account for it’.


Kudusyolu: Today the media, giving some strange news, have told that Hamas is trying to devise a plot against Mahmud Abbas and Israel has spoilt it.

(intervening) Are we devising a plot against Mahmud Abbas?!

Kudusyolu: We answered it in our website but if we want to report your attitude on this point from your mouth, what could we tell?

Khaled Mashal: First of all, our attitude on this point is certain. Hamas has followed a clear political line on this point since the first day. The struggle of Hamas is within the borders of Palestine and against the occupation powers. Hamas has targeted neither Palestine nor Arabian countries nor any of Islam countries. The war of Hamas is against the occupiers.

We have such a principle. We do not see any of Palestinians’ blood as halal. Even if we had a conflict with a group, that would remain in a political dimension and we would refer to political methods and dialogue. Noone can find any plans or projects like devising a plot against the Palestinian in our policy.

Similar accusations were brought up in the matter Jordan. The visit of Palestine Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mahmud Zenhar was also blocked with some groundless accusations brought in this context. Jordan had claimed that Hamas was planning some actions in Jordan and targeting some persons.

These kind of accusations have no ground. As I stated before, our policy in the framework of the subject is quiet certain. We have not targeted an Arabaian country, a Muslim or a person. Our struggle is only against the powers occupying Palestine. We must take into account that these kind of accusations were brought up when the Palestine government was tried to be sieged.


Kudusyolu: Palestine International conference was held in Tehran. You attended at that meeting. How was the conference?

Khaled Mashal: The conference had the quality of a strong, successful and effective programme. This conference displayed the support which Islamic Republic of Iran give to the Palestine ideal and their sincerity at this point.

Thanks to Allah, the participation was very extensive. There was an extensive paticipation from several parliamentary delegates in Arabian and Islam countries to scholars, intellectuals. This conference displayed that the Islam people care the Palestine ideal and give importance to this ideal. The participants gave support to the Palestinian people and the legal government they elected; they took place in the same side.


Kudusyolu: When you visited Turkey, it was thought that you were trying to give your message to the West by means of Turkey. On the other hand, it was also said that Turkey was trying to transmit the West’s message to you. How do you think it should be explained?

Khaled Mashal: First of all, our visit to Turkey was a part of our visit to the Arabian and Islam countries. Turkey is an important country in the Islamic world and regarded as a European country at one point. Turkey is preponderant in the international arena and in the region. We were already thinking about visiting Turkey for reasons like these.

As a matter of fact an invitation came from Turkey and we accepted it. However we also wanted to visit Turkey. We wanted to talk about our ideal and wanted them to give political and economical support to the Palestinian government and Palestinian people. It is very important for Turkey to stand by the Palestinian people during their new experience.

The authorities in Turkey gave us a kind reception despite a lot of pressure and reactions coming from outside and inside. The USA, Israel and some states oppressed the government from outside and some interior powers from inside. In conclusion, we can say that it was a successful meeting for us.

Turkey did not have a meaning of being a mediator between us and the USA and its allies. Transmitting the messages between people is also out of dicussion. This visit was a part of our foreign visits. We say that no matter which government helps to Palestine, we are open to this aid.


Kudusyolu: So would you like to visit Turkey again?

Khaled Mashal: Sure. We expect support from each Arabian and Islam country. This connection provides our strategic depth in the region. We need the Islamic people’s support. In the history of Turkey, it is possible to see good attitudes towards the Palestine ideal… Turkey is an important country in the region and we are open to every side which will give support to our ideal.


“Chechen people is our honour”

Kudusyolu: Especially our Chechen brothers holding the first place, some circles felt indisposed about your meeting with Russia at first. Necessary declarations have been made, of course, we have also tried to pull our weight. But what you will say is really important for our Chechen brothers at this point…

Khaled Mashal: You see the intricate issues which have become a bobble in the world. As Muslims, we have to understand each other’s circumstances. Especially, under the circumstances that we have been under siege we have to develop some relations with all the world’s countries. It is needless to say that it does not mean that we adopt the policies of the countries we have relation with. We may be allies with these countries at some points as well as being opposed to them at others.

We behave openly to any kind of aids. We are trying to obtain the support of the whole World for the Palestine ideal. Our aim is to break the influence of international Zionism on us as much as we can do. Russia is a powerful country in th region and it has a relation with the Palestine issue. Naturally we had to visit them too.

This visit does not mean that we are against the ideal of the Chechen people or that we have forgotten our brothers. The Chechen people is a Muslim people, we appreciat the Chechen people and see them as our honour. We do not ignore the ideal of the Chechen people! We are on the side of all Muslims’ issues. However we have to do our best in order to take support in the internetional arena against the tyranny we meet in the Palestinian lands.


Kudusyolu: Finally what are your advice and wishes to the Turkish people and especially to the young?

Khaled Mashal: I would like to focus especially on the point of the young. First of all, all the young together with the people should develop their sensitivity. The young should give importance to Quds, to the first Kıblah of Muslims, to the lands of Miraj. Tukish people are the part of the Islam people. These people have a direct relation with the Palestine ideal. At this point, the young can arrange press statements, panels, conferences; they can strike into the Palestine ideal by many means. Scholars and thinkers have to express their sensitivity at this point.

The young should follow the Palestine ideal process carefully, watch the news, learn about the details, read books and magazines on the issue, see what the Palestinian people suffer under the Israel occupation. They must study on how the Zionist project will affect the future of the region, how Israel threatens the Islam people’s future. The culture, consciousness and feelings at this point are very important. Not only a feeling but also knowledge-based consciousness should be created. The young should consider these studies at the dynamic ages when their minds are open.

“Turkish People should help Palestine”

On the other hand Turkish People and youngsters should help Palestinian people who are under siege as much as they can do. Today Palestine people are under an economic pressure. At this point Muslims should help Palestine.

Surely the young can have some wrong convictions. We advise the young to be methodical and refer to useful methods. It is very important for them to protect their country’s security, to help the Palestine ideal and all Islam people’s problems, issues in that way, to avoid studies containing violance!

The young, intellectuals and university students should start an awakening. The power of Turkey is the power of Islam people. Strengtening of Islamic countries enables Israel and America to weaken, neutralize in the region.

I would like to state that finally. Your peers, brothers in Palestine have started intifada. They have became martyrs; they have struggled. The people in the pictures that you have seen are all young. They have raised the flag of jihad, the name of Palestine. They are working for the independence of Quds and Masjed-i Aqsa. The victory of Gaza is also their success! They are also the ones who have floated Hamas into power. Hamas is a movement of the young anyway. The next generation will strengthen this voice. The young of Turkey can do a lot on the way of the Palestinian ideal and defence of the all Islam people.