Hamas’s ‘victory’ in the recent hostilities with Israel had foiled attempts by Israel to integrate into the Arab world, according to Hamas head, Ismail Haniyeh.
He was quoted in the Times of Israel as saying: ‘We have destroyed the project of “coexistence” with Israel, of “normalization” with Israel.’
Haniyeh was apparently referring to Israel’s recent peace agreements with four Arab nations.
‘What is coming after this battle is not what came before it…you will yet see many [diplomatic] contacts and successes,’ Haniyeh said. ‘We have seen how our nation awoke…to stand behind Jerusalem, Palestine and resistance.’
While analysts acknowledge that Israel will struggle to restore ties with its Arab minority after the riots and attacks, it was not immediately evident that the fighting was detrimental to its new ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
Egypt has a peace agreement with Israel, and it played a major role in negotiating the ceasefire.
Haniyeh also vowed to continue to focus on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount ‘until Al-Aqsa Mosque is liberated’.
The Old City compound saw fresh clashes on Friday.
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