Mashaal indicated that his group would continue attacks on Israeli civilians as long as Palestinian civilians were targeted by Israel.
"As long as we are under occupation then resistance is our right," he said.
Mashaal's call comes in staunch contrast with international calls on Hamas to abolish its armed wing following its landslide victory in the Palestinian elections.
"Resistance is a legitimate right that we will practice and protect. Our presence in the legislature will strengthen the resistance," he said.
"If people raised the issue of targeting civilians, we said and we say that when our enemy stops targeting civilians we will abide by that,? Mashaal said.
Asked if a truce that ended at the end of 2005 will be renewed, Mashaal said "it results were not encouraging."
Mashaal then outlined Hamas? three goals: Reform of the Palestinian authority, sustaining its resistance to Israel and "arranging the Palestinian home."
He said Hamas wanted a partnership with other Palestinian factions and called for the world to respect the radical organization's landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
Mashaal said he was in contact with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. "We will reach a partnership formula, and we extend our hand to everyone." He said no Palestinian faction would be sidelined.
Hamas won 76 seats of the 132-member parliament in this week's election.
Mashaal attacked U.S. and Israeli opposition to the Hamas victory, saying the "world raised the slogan of democracy and now it should respect the results of democracy. If you want to punish the Palestinian people for practicing democracy then the American administration should punish Americans for choosing President (George W.) Bush."
He declared Hamas' determination to reshape the Palestinian authority, coining the phrase: "Hamas succeeded in resistance and it will succeed in reforms."
In an apparent reference to the ruling Fatah Party, Mashaal warned those "who might try block the work because they are out of power. They are the ones who will be responsible."
Mashaal vowed to work for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, which, he said, numbered 9,000.
Hamas mulls technocrat government
Ghazi Hamad, one of Hamas' top ideologues, said on Saturday that Hamas may consider forming a government of technocrats with no connection to the radical Islamic movement, in a bid to relieve some of the international pressure on the group.
"We want a government for the Palestinian people, and if we couldn't do that then there are lots of options, one of which is a technocrat government," Hamad said.
Abbas announced on Friday that he will ask Hamas to form a government following its election victory.
"Up until now we haven't asked anyone to form a government," Abbas said. "But we've negotiated with some of the factions and, of course, we will ask the party that has received the most votes to do so."
Earlier, Hamas officials expressed their wish to form a "political partnership" with Abbas.
Mashaal: Hamas ready to form Palestinian army
By News Agencies
Hamas' political bureau chief Khaled Mashaal declared on Saturday that his group will not disarm and that he was ready to form an army to defend the Palestinian people from aggression.
We are willing to form an army like every country ... an army to defend our people against aggression," Mashaal told reporters from his base in Damascus, the Syrian capital.
Mashaal indicated that his group would continue attacks on Israeli civilians as long as Palestinian civilians were targeted by Israel.
"As long as we are under occupation then resistance is our right," he said.
Mashaal's call comes in staunch contrast with international calls on Hamas to abolish its armed wing following its landslide victory in the Palestinian elections.
"Resistance is a legitimate right that we will practice and protect. Our presence in the legislature will strengthen the resistance," he said.
"If people raised the issue of targeting civilians, we said and we say that when our enemy stops targeting civilians we will abide by that,? Mashaal said.
Asked if a truce that ended at the end of 2005 will be renewed, Mashaal said "it results were not encouraging."
Mashaal then outlined Hamas? three goals: Reform of the Palestinian authority, sustaining its resistance to Israel and "arranging the Palestinian home."
He said Hamas wanted a partnership with other Palestinian factions and called for the world to respect the radical organization's landslide victory in parliamentary elections.
Mashaal said he was in contact with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. "We will reach a partnership formula, and we extend our hand to everyone." He said no Palestinian faction would be sidelined.
Hamas won 76 seats of the 132-member parliament in this week's election.
Mashaal attacked U.S. and Israeli opposition to the Hamas victory, saying the "world raised the slogan of democracy and now it should respect the results of democracy. If you want to punish the Palestinian people for practicing democracy then the American administration should punish Americans for choosing President (George W.) Bush."
He declared Hamas' determination to reshape the Palestinian authority, coining the phrase: "Hamas succeeded in resistance and it will succeed in reforms."
In an apparent reference to the ruling Fatah Party, Mashaal warned those "who might try block the work because they are out of power. They are the ones who will be responsible."
Mashaal vowed to work for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails, which, he said, numbered 9,000.
Hamas mulls technocrat government
Ghazi Hamad, one of Hamas' top ideologues, said on Saturday that Hamas may consider forming a government of technocrats with no connection to the radical Islamic movement, in a bid to relieve some of the international pressure on the group.
"We want a government for the Palestinian people, and if we couldn't do that then there are lots of options, one of which is a technocrat government," Hamad said.
Abbas announced on Friday that he will ask Hamas to form a government following its election victory.
"Up until now we haven't asked anyone to form a government," Abbas said. "But we've negotiated with some of the factions and, of course, we will ask the party that has received the most votes to do so."
Earlier, Hamas officials expressed their wish to form a "political partnership" with Abbas.
Posted by Ted Belman at January 28, 2006 09:40 AM