The Hamas official said the movement would accept any condition from the
international community but one, recognizing Israel, as he said it means
giving up rights.

Hamas 'could get world recognition' after Mursi win
Published yesterday (updated) 26/06/2012 15:06
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=498756

BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- The victory of Muhammad Mursi in the Egyptian
presidential elections could enable Hamas to secure international
recognition, an official in the party said Monday.

The election of the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, the historic parent
movement of Gaza-rulers Hamas, in neighboring Egypt was received with
jubilation in the Gaza Strip.

Ahmad Yousef, widely regarded as a Hamas moderate, told Ma'an the Mursi
presidency could help end the West's isolation of the movement, as well as
ending Israel's blockade on the coastal enclave.

Mursi as president will "get the international community to recognize us and
deal with us, just as it did with the Islamists in Tunisia, Egypt and
Yemen," Yousef predicted.

The Hamas official said the movement would accept any condition from the
international community but one, recognizing Israel, as he said it means
giving up rights.

"I am confident that the West will deal with Hamas and remove the movement
from the terrorism list, because for four years Hamas has started to show
moderation and flexibility," he said.

Hamas is ready to take Egypt's advice, and to accept any reconciliation deal
it brokers with party rivals Fatah, he added.

While the Mursi presidency is important for Palestine, Yousef acknowledged
the first priority would be Egypt's own stability.

"Stability in Egypt will perfect the strong triangle in the region
consisting of Turkey and Iran in addition to Egypt," he said.

Yousef said that the party could take advantage from the victory, but "in
the end of the day, polls will decide who deserves to lead the Palestinian
affairs. Hamas will either be leading again, or join opposition."

Meanwhile, adviser to the Fatah president, Nimir Hammad said Hamas'
confidence after the Mursi victory was misplaced.

"Hamas’ judgments are not accurate. If their judgments about the situation
in Palestine are inaccurate, how can they give accurate judgments about
Egypt?" he retorted