Hamas: Obama has to learn from his successors´ mistakes

Source: Xinhua | 01-22-2009 08:10

GAZA, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- An Islamic Hamas movement's spokesman said on Wednesday that 44th President of the United States Barack Obama "has to learn from the mistakes of his predecessor."

Fawzi Barhoum, the movement's spokesman in Gaza, told a news conference that Obama "is standing before a real examination concerning the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people's interests and legitimate rights."

"Our judgment will be based on his (Obama) policy and his practical steps on the ground and also to how much he learned from the mistakes of the previous American administrations and its unfair foreign policy," said Barhoum.

Meanwhile, Barhoum welcomed President Mahmoud Abbas' calls for the resumption of dialogue. However, he said "We wish that these calls are serious, because we are ready for dialogue when the circumstances are possible."

"Dialogue is not just only slogans or calls or statements, dialogue is something serious and practical. Hamas movement is really to positively deal with all the efforts aiming at ending the current Palestinian split," he said.

Hamas movement has been ruling the Gaza Strip since mid June 2007. It has taken the enclave by force and routed President Mahmoud Abbas security forces and cracked down on his Fatah movement.

Hamas had in November last year thwarted an Egyptian effort to hold a general Palestinian dialogue that ends the status of split between the Islamic movement that rules Gaza and Abbas who rules the West Bank.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei