Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the spiritual leader and founder of Hamas, expected new violence and said there was no chance for a cease-fire unless Israel withdrew from Palestinian territories.
"Without an Israeli withdrawal there can be no talk of stopping the fight," Yassin told Germany's Die Welt daily in an interview published on Tuesday. "There can be no talk of a cease-fire at this point in time."
"As long as Palestinian civilians are victims of Israeli attacks, Israeli civilians will be victims."
Commenting on Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Yassin said: "He won't do anything. And as long as the soldiers sit directly next to us and as long as there are liquidation attacks, there can be no talk of a calming of the situation."
Meanwhile, Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat said late Monday that Israeli hints of unilateral moves showed that Sharon was not serious about the U.S.-backed road map to
peace. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
