Hamas Says It's Ready For Direct Talks With Israel

[oberliner]

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A senior Hamas leader says the group is willing to talk directly to Israel, reversing a previous ban.

In an interview with Al Quds TV to be broadcast later Thursday, Hamas No. 2 Musa Abu Marzouk says "Hamas is willing to talk directly to the Israelis" over issues including Gaza border crossings and prisoner releases.

"Just as you negotiate with weapons you can also negotiate by talk," he said in a tape of the interview obtained by The Associated Press. "Up till now our policy was no negotiation with (Israel), but others should be aware that this issue is not taboo."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/11/hamas-israel-direct-talks_n_5804420.html

That puts them ahead of George Galloway.

Although, notice how Israel is in parenthesis in the actual article. My guess is that he actually said "Zionist Entity" or something similar.

[Jefferson23]

1. You're accusing the author of cleaning up the OP based on your own bias. n/t

[sabbat hunter]

2. usually

when a word like that is added in brackets it is because the speaker did not use the word, but it was clear what context he was talking about. I have often seen this in articles on all sorts of subjects.

[Jefferson23]

3. Of course, but the poster was suggesting something more than that. n/t

[sabbat hunter]

4. agreed n/t

[oberliner]

5. No I'm not

I'm saying that the source put Israel in parenthesis because that wasn't the word he actually said.

Hamas reps almost always refer to Israel as The Zionist Entity or something similar.

I am not sure what bias you think that is demonstrating on my part.

[Jefferson23]

6. You put it out there in your own words and denying it now is just silly.

You have no evidence those words were used, as you claimed.

[aranthus]

7. Of course there is evidence.

The word Israel was placed in parentheses, which indicates that the speaker used some other word than Israel. The most commonly used name for Israel by Hamas and their ilk is "The Zionist Entity." So it's a reasonable conclusion that those were the words actually used, especially since "The Zionist Entity," is about the nicest name for Israel that Hamas uses. The speaker didn't use the word Israel, so what do you think he actually said?

[Jefferson23]

8. It is only reasonable to assume by people with a bias and unreasonable to presume the author

would not print the alleged slur. Your evidence is imaginary.

[King_David]

9. Actually he's spot on and anybody with any knowledge of IP knows it

Hamas, Iran , ISIS Al Quaida all use the term Zionist Entity as they do not recognize Israel .

[Jefferson23]

10. Another biased opinion joins the thread..thanks. n/t

[King_David]

11. It's not opinion