Haniyeh: We won’t trade land for statehood

The chief of the Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip, Ismail Haniyeh has reiterated the group’s opposition to the PLO’s bid for statehood at the UN. "The Palestinian people have fought and struggled for more than 60 years to liberate their land and establish the Palestinian state with its capital Jerusalem. We can’t accept to have a state in exchange for a single inch of our land, or to give up one of our rights, such as the right of return”, he said during a speech today. "We support the establishment of a Palestinian state on any liberated land, but without recognising the occupation or giving up an inch of the land of Palestine.” The UN bid was a unilateral move, made without consultation or national consensus and would lead to the recognition of the Israeli entity on 78% of the Palestinian land. It is destined to a dead end. Haniyeh stressed that the States are not established by decisions and that the Palestinian people have to take their right back. “We support a state that reflects the dignity of the Palestinian people. We will not beg for a state and we won’t run after anyone. We are steadfast and we believe that victory will come soon.”