The following are excerpts from a speech given by Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on January 15, 2010.

Khaled Mash'al: I said to the Arab leaders and officials during my tour [of the region] – and I do not give advice publicly before advising them in person: Instead of viewing Hamas and the Palestinian resistance as a burden on you vis-à-vis the Americans and the world, treat it as a means of support and as a source of power for you.

Use us to intimidate Israel and exert pressure upon it – we are ready for this. Use Hamas and the Palestinian resistance to intimidate Israel. Use Hizbullah and the Lebanese resistance to intimidate it. Use the Iraqi and Afghan resistance to intimidate America. Why don't you take advantage of this?