Hamas: No New Truce With Israel

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, speaking to a rally in Damascus, said today:

"We will not enter a new truce while our people are surrounded and are preparing for a new round of conflict. We have had enough of the truce while our prisoners are still held.

"The Palestinian gun will always be pointed only at the Zionist enemy and peace can only be achieved through the gun."(Al Jazeera)

The current treaty -- which hardly stopped Hamas violence, expires at the end of the year.

The Palestinian Authority denounced Meshaal's statement, saying it was an effort to sabotage the Palestinian elections on January 25 -- in which Hamas is running candidates. Confusing.

Once again I wonder: What in the world was Sharon thinking when he booted settlers from the occupied territories?