Hamas Leader Khaled Mash'al: Eventually, Europe Will Have to Deal with Hamas

Following are excerpts from an interview with Hamas leader Khaled Mash'al, which aired on Al-Manar TV on December 21, 2005.

Khaled Mash'al: Many European diplomats, when they feel comfortable with us, reveal to us their true convictions, which may differ from the official position they represent. This indicates that European policy is often contradictory, because it sees and knows the truth, but it cannot impose this truth on Israel, and cannot influence American policy to stop its bias, and lead it to moderation and equality.

As proof that the Western position will eventually change, whether they like it or not, I will present you with two models – one negative and the other positive.

The negative model is as follows: Europe, and Western society in general, had a certain policy toward the Jews - the Jews lived in ghettos and were considered the "Jewish problem." Some (Westerners) harmed them - but nothing like the story of the Holocaust and the exaggerations, which, unfortunately, the Zionist movement uses to extort the world. Europe and Western society had some sort of unnatural co-existence with the Jews. Today the West is being pressured and extorted by the Zionist movement. Whereas the policy towards the Jews was negative, in various degrees, today there is Zionist hegemony over much of Western policy.

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The positive model is as follows: How did Europe and the international community deal with the events in South Africa and with Mandela? They supported the racist regime, and opposed the rights of the native South African people. Mandela was in prison. But the steadfastness of the South African people, the steadfastness and will of this great man, Mandela, caused them to accept Mandela and to bring him to power.

Eventually, Europe will have no choice but to adapt itself to the reality Today they include Hamas in the list of terror organizations, but tomorrow they will deal with Hamas and the resistance.