Times interview with Palestinian Foreign Minister in full

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Times Online April 07, 2006


Times interview with Palestinian Foreign Minister in full
From Stephen Farrell, in Gaza City

Full transcript of The Times interview with Dr Mahmoud Zahar, Palestinian Foreign Minister in the Hamas-led Palestinian government, on April 6, 2006


Q: WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AND IMMEDIATE PRIORITIES WITH ALL THE FINANCIAL AND SECURITY PRESSURES ON HAMAS?


A: The failure of this government means the destruction of the Palestinian Authority because the people will not accept an alternative government. People voted for this government because they are in urgent need of change and reform. Some people believe that they voted for Hamas as a punishment for Fatah. This is not true because there were alternative national wings, so the people voted for Hamas because they are looking for change.

The international - it is not international - the American pressure is not serving the interests of the Palestinian people, at the same time it is not serving the interests of the American existence in the area, whether official or non-official.

snip

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-2122837,00.html

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1. No dancing and no gays if Hamas gets its way

And below is the previous interview from Times Online with Zahar in which Zahar gives his delightful views on homosexuals, dancing, etc

The Times October 07, 2005


No dancing and no gays if Hamas gets its way
By Stephen Farrell


A VISION of an Islamic society that bans mixed dancing and sternly disapproves of homosexuality has been given by Mahmoud Zahar, the most senior leader of Hamas in Gaza.

After controversies when a Hamas-led council halted a dance festival and Islamist gunmen stopped a rap band performing in Gaza, Dr Zahar defended the enforcement of a strict interpretation of Islam.


“A man holds a woman by the hand and dances with her in front of everyone. Does that serve the national interest?” Dr Zahar said on the Arabic website Elaph. “If so, why have the phenomena of corruption and prostitution become pervasive in recent years?”

snip
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-1814968,00.html