M. East Truce?

A senior Hamas representative said yesterday that the Palestinian group had accepted Israel’s right to exist and would be prepared to nullify a charter calling for Israel’s destruction. “[Aziz] Dwaik’s remarks are seen in the context of Hamas’s attempts to win recognition from the international community,” reports the Israeli newspaper the Jerusalem Post. “Dwaik is the elected speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He was released a few months ago after spending nearly three years in an Israeli prison. Dwaik was among dozens of Hamas officials and members who were rounded up by Israel following the abduction of IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit near the Gaza Strip in June 2006. His latest remarks were made during a meeting he held in Hebron with British millionaire David Martin Abrahams, who maintains close ties with senior Israeli and British government officials.”