The Islamic Jihad Movement has rejected Hamas’s new policy of accepting a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.
Islamic Jihad's deputy leader, Ziad al-Nakhala, expressed concern about the Palestinian resistance movement’s new political program.
“We are opposed to Hamas's acceptance of a state within the 1967 borders and we think this is a concession which damages our aims," Nakhala said on Islamic Jihad's website.
He argued that the new Hamas policy formally recognizes the idea of a state in the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 Six-Day War and warned that the plan would “lead to deadlock and can only produce half-solutions.”
Hamas announced its new political roadmap, which accepts the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders in the Qatari capital of Doha on Monday.
"Hamas advocates the liberation of all of Palestine but is ready to support the state on 1967 borders without recognizing Israel or ceding any rights," said the chief of Hamas political bureau, Khaled Meshaal.
He went on to stress that the new document in no way amounted to recognition of Israel.
“We do not want to dilute our principles but we want to be open. We hope this (document) will mark a change in the stance of European states towards us," he added.
The document states, "There shall be no recognition of the legitimacy of the Zionist entity."
It also calls for the return of the Palestinian refugees, and underscores Hamas’s right to armed resistance against the Tel Aviv regime.
Following its announcement, the Tel Aviv regime referred to it as a smoke screen aimed at fooling the world.
"Hamas is attempting to fool the world but it will not succeed," said a spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Meanwhile, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum confirmed on Saturday that Ismail Haniyeh had been chosen as the leader of the movement, replacing Khaled Meshaal.
Hamas is a leading force in the fight against Israel, which has waged three wars against the Palestinian territory since 2007, killing thousands of people.
The last war began in early July 2014 and ended on August 26 the same year. It killed nearly 2,200 Palestinians and wounded over 11,100 others.
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