| Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC January 10, 2007 Question taken at Daily Briefing of Jan. 10, 2007 Hamas Figure Acknowledges Israel's Existence (Taken Question)Question: Any reaction to Khaled Mashaal's recent comments on Israel? What is our view and assessment of his comments? Answer: Progress toward peace requires a Palestinian partner, one that accepts the principles outlined by the Quartet: renunciation of violence and terror, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements between the parties, including the Roadmap. The Hamas-led Palestinian Authority Government, to date, has both through its actions and its statements clearly rejected partnership and the path of peace as articulated by the Quartet and PA President Abbas. We see nothing in the reported comments of Khaled Mashaal that changes that assessment. |
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