Deposed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya Tuesday sent a letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon saying that his government backs the efforts to establish a Palestinian state, Xinhua reported.
In the letter addressed to Ban, Haneya said that his government "encourages and supports every step that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967."
Haneya's letter, which was also sent to reporters, was sent to Ban shortly before the annual UN General Assembly starts its meetings in New York.
"We won't obstruct any effort to achieve the establishment of a free and independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," said Haneya.
Hamas, which was founded in late 1987 in Gaza, has been calling in its charter for the destruction of the Jewish state and replacing Israel by an Islamic state on the lands of Palestine. Hamas rejects to recognize Israel.
Israel and the United States should take more responsibility for promoting the Middle East peace process, said Haneya in his letter.
He went on saying that "although the Palestinians accepted the two-state solution based on giving the Palestinians their rights, mainly the refugees, the United States and Israel are not giving the Palestinians what they want."
Meanwhile, Haneya referred to the suffering of the Gaza Strip population, saying "they are living under siege and still waiting for the promises to reconstruct Gaza and rebuild their houses that were destroyed by Israel."
He called on Ban Ki-moon and the international community to recognize his government that was "democratically elected and represents the Palestinians," adding that the siege and embargo must be lifted.
The international Quartet imposed an embargo on Hamas which won in the 2006 elections after it refused to recognize Israel and the signed interim peace agreements and condemn violence.
...