Hamas Leader Isma'il Haniya: No Contradiction between Hamas Participating in the Resistance and in Legislative Council

Following are excerpts from an address given by Hamas leader Isma'il Haniya, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on January 26, 2006.

Isma'il Haniya: What is historically known as the Sykes-Picot agreement divided the Arab and Islamic world into states and countries. The truth is that we deal with this agreement as if it were a fait accompli, yet we do not recognize it. We do not recognize the fragmentation of the Arab and Islamic world.

This stems from the reality of the Palestinian land. There is an occupation oppressing the Palestinian people. There is a reality that was imposed upon the Palestinian people. We deal with this reality, but we do not recognize it. We deal with this reality, but we do not recognize it as legitimate.

[...]

Resistance is a principle and a legitimate right of the Palestinian people, which we will not give up.

Hamas has entered the Legislative Council only to defend the resistance and its fighters, until all the Palestinian rights are restored. There is no contradiction whatsoever between Hamas participation in the resistance, and its presence in the Legislative Council - no contradiction whatsoever.