Mousa Abu Marzouq, deputy chief of the Hamas political bureau called on the American President, Barack Obama, to hold direct talks with Hamas, and added that the US administration should realize that a political solution without Hamas will never succeed.

He added that Hamas represents the Palestinian people, and that the determination of Obama to achieve peace in the Middle East is welcomed but cannot succeed without talking to Hamas.

“Holding talks with Hamas is essential”, Abu Marzouq said, “Obama cannot hold talks with people who do not represent the Palestinian people” (referring to Presdient Mahmoud Abbas and his Fateh movement.)

Abu Marzouq added that Hamas has the right to resist the Israeli occupation, and would not adhere to the US and European demands to “renounce violence”, stating that resistance is an internationally guaranteed right to any nation living under occupation and oppression.

He called on the Obama administration to change its position and hold talks with the movement.

Abu Marzouq further said that the source of violence in the Middle East is the Israeli occupation and Israel’s provocations.

The Hamas leader also said that in his Cairo speech, Obama should have elaborated on the illegal Israeli occupation and ongoing attacks against the Palestinian people.

Yet, Abu Marzouq praised Obama for his stance against the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Hamas achieved an overwhelming victory in the legislative elections of 2006. But Israel and the United States led a crippling siege on the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli army also kidnapped dozens of elected Hamas legislators, mayors and officials, including the elected head of the Palestinian Legislative Council, Dr. Aziz Dweik.

Source: www.imemc.org